Watford’s Gabriele Angella has suggested he plans to remain at Vicarage Road for many years after Udinese owner Gianpaolo Pozzo claimed the defender wants to return to Italy.

Gianpaolo Pozzo has no official role at Watford and no direct influence on the Championship team but is aware of club situations due to his son, Gino, owning the Golden Boys outright and the close working relationship between Udinese and their English counterparts.

It was reported six weeks ago that Angella wanted to return to Italy and this week Gianpaolo Pozzo told the Udine-based newspaper Messaggero Veneto: "The boy (Angella) has expressed a desire to return to Italy. In January nothing happens, [then] we will try to please him in the summer."

However, the following day Watford posted comments from the defender to the contrary on their website.

"I’m very, very happy with Watford – this is a great place to be playing football," Angella said.

"Watford’s fans have been amazing towards me. They are very passionate but also so respectful that every man is trying hard in all situations."

He then stressed: "We want to do some special things at Watford for many years ahead and I will (would) love to be part of this story."

Angella’s stance has altered slightly in the last month, as on December 11 he was less reluctant to commit to the club long-term.

He told the Watford Observer he was happy at the Hornets but then added: "I want to stay here and go up with this team. This is my objective. Then we will see.

"I am happy and I believe in this project. I know the owner (Gino Pozzo) very well so I want to do a great job here."

Asked if he could return to Italy in future, Angella replied: "I don’t know. Anything is possible. My family are in Italy, so maybe I can return but not now, now I will stay in England."

And on playing in the Premier League, he added: "Yes, this is my objective: play in the Premier League or at the top."

Angella has impressed at both ends of the pitch during his 18 months in England, making 62 appearances and scoring ten goals during that time.

The former Italy Under-21 international began his career at Empoli before moving to Udinese in August 2010, although he has also had loan spells at Siena and Reggina since then.

Angella, who has a contract with Watford until 2018, spent the whole of the 2012/13 campaign – his last in Italy before the switch to England – at Udinese but was limited to only 15 outings in all competitions as he struggled to cement a spot in the side.

The decision on whether Angella will be sold will ultimately be taken by Gino Pozzo. He was heavily involved with Udinese before the family’s acquisition of Watford in 2012 and is still described as ‘a councillor’ by the Italian side’s website.

‘The Pozzo family’ were listed as Watford’s owners following the takeover in 2012 but Gino has always been the one in charge of the club, despite the national media often incorrectly stating it is his father.

Gino moved to England the following year and is at the club’s Vicarage Road office and training ground on a day-to-day basis.

The Watford Observer learned in December that Gino had taken sole ownership of the Hornets and this was confirmed by the club at the time.

The Golden Boys also confirmed Gianpaolo has had no direct influence on decision-making, both of which we reported last month.

But Watford and Udinese do work together closely and share the family’s world-renowned scouting network. The Championship team have benefited greatly from recruiting fringe players from Udinese and Granada, the Pozzo family’s two other clubs.

Some Udinese fans have expressed concern that Gino is now only focused on Watford and his father was asked about it during the same interview with Messaggero Veneto.

Gianpaolo Pozzo replied: "Gino lives in London because there we have extra football interests. If Watford were the priority [they] would have gone (been promoted) to the Premier League two years ago. In London we always sent the replacement players of Udinese."