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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
Sam Frost

Spanish team twinned with Bristol Rovers set for takeover by owner of Championship club

For some Bristol Rovers fans, Spanish club CE Sabadell holds a place in their heart and they are set to be taken over by Watford owner Gino Pozzo.

The Pozzo family has owned several clubs across Europe, with the Hornets and Serie A club Udinese in their portfolio. They have also had stakes in Spanish clubs Granada and Valladolid in the past.

Reports in Spain suggest Pozzo will form a consortium with unnamed American investors and the takeover of the third-tier club will be completed next month.

Rovers' association with the Catalonian club was made in 2005. Both clubs wear the blue and white quarters and a chance meeting between Gasheads and Sabadell fans in Barcelona has blossomed into an official relationship, with the clubs being twinned.

The Gas played a pre-season friendly against Sabadell in 2016, and supporters have been calling for another trio to Catalunya since.

The Pozzo model of owning clubs has been to collaborate, signing players for one club and loaning them to others under the umbrella. Watford have had several dealings with Granada and Udinese since the Pozzos took charge in 2012, acquiring the club from Laurence Bassini.

Should the same model be implemented, prospects from Watford and Udinese could be playing in the blue and white quarters in the future, although not those of Bristol Rovers.

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