Being on the books of both Barcelona and Real Madrid is a rare achievement most players will never come close to realising during their playing careers.

Watford’s Kiko Femenia can, however, say he has done so, having played for the illustrious club’s respective B teams en route to making the switch to Watford.

While he never made an impression on the first team at either the Camp Nou or Bernabeu, Femenia says his experience with both clubs has set him up for a successful career.

Femenia said: “It was a privilege to play at two of the best academies in the world and I believe they helped me to grow as the player I am now.”

Failing to make the grade at two of the biggest club sides in world football is by no means an indictment of Femenia’s quality and he has gone on to forge a fine career.

Spells at Alcorcon and Alaves followed before he fulfilled an ambition in making a move to England to join Watford last summer.

The flying full-back has no ill feeling towards either Real or Barca and says his focus is on the present rather than proving his former clubs made a mistake in allowing him to leave.

“In my whole career I have had ups and downs and not every club will believe in you. My mentality has always been to concentrate and give my best every day to reach the maximum of my potential,” he said.

“It is not about telling other clubs where I am now. Certain clubs believe in me, certain clubs don’t. It is about giving my best.

“Where I am now, in the Premier League with Watford, is my prize for my efforts.”

January brought with it the arrival of Gerard Deulofeu at Watford and saw Femenia link up with player he knows well from their time together at Barcelona.

The winger is currently out with an injury, but Femenia has, nonetheless, enjoyed having Deulofeu join him at Vicarage Road.

He said: “It is amazing to see him again from the Barcelona academy. We all know the quality he possesses and know he is a great player and it is a shame the injury came right now.

“We all know what he can bring to this club and he is one of the best players we have.”