Can Twitter help save Spanish soccer club Real Oviedo?

    By Oliver Joy, CNN

    Updated 1608 GMT (0008 HKT) November 15, 2012

    Real Oviedo fans show their support for the club in the Estadio Carlos Tartiere with a banner reading "For the future of Real Oviedo" before a game with Real Madrid's reserve team on November 11, 2012.
    Photos: Real Oviedo's fight for survival
    Real Oviedo: A Twitter sensation – Real Oviedo fans show their support for the club in the Estadio Carlos Tartiere with a banner reading "For the future of Real Oviedo" before a game with Real Madrid's reserve team on November 11, 2012.
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    The Real Oviedo players huddle on the pitch before the match.
    Photos: Real Oviedo's fight for survival
    Real Oviedo: A Twitter sensation – The Real Oviedo players huddle on the pitch before the match.
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    Real Oviedo fans hold up a banner as they march through the northern city on their way to the game.
    Photos: Real Oviedo's fight for survival
    Real Oviedo: A Twitter sensation – Real Oviedo fans hold up a banner as they march through the northern city on their way to the game.
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    Fans demonstrate against the demise of their club, which needs to raise $2.4 million by November 17.
    Photos: Real Oviedo's fight for survival
    Real Oviedo: A Twitter sensation – Fans demonstrate against the demise of their club, which needs to raise $2.4 million by November 17.
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    Oviedo fans display a banner in the Estadio Carlos Tartiere reading: "Happen what may, Oviedistas until death."
    Photos: Real Oviedo's fight for survival
    Real Oviedo: A Twitter sensation – Oviedo fans display a banner in the Estadio Carlos Tartiere reading: "Happen what may, Oviedistas until death."
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    World Cup winner Juan Mata is one of the stars produced by Oviedo's youth system. He now plays for England's European champions Chelsea.
    Photos: Real Oviedo's fight for survival
    Real Oviedo: A Twitter sensation – World Cup winner Juan Mata is one of the stars produced by Oviedo's youth system. He now plays for England's European champions Chelsea.
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    Arsenal's midfield maestro Santi Cazorla is another big-name player from Oviedo's academy who is helping to save his former club.
    Photos: Real Oviedo's fight for survival
    Real Oviedo: A Twitter sensation – Arsenal's midfield maestro Santi Cazorla is another big-name player from Oviedo's academy who is helping to save his former club.
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    Michu was a Real Oviedo player for four years and has been campaigning on Twitter to save the club. He now plays in the English Premier League with Welsh club Swansea.
    Photos: Real Oviedo's fight for survival
    Real Oviedo: A Twitter sensation – Michu was a Real Oviedo player for four years and has been campaigning on Twitter to save the club. He now plays in the English Premier League with Welsh club Swansea.
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    Story highlights

    • Real Oviedo's story has become an instant Twitter sensation as football fans snap up shares
    • Now in the third tier, Real Oviedo developed players like Juan Mata, Santi Cazorla and Michu
    • Club received over €1 million in just nine days, with €274,000 of that from people from Twitter
    In an age when Russian oligarchs and Arab Sheikhs spend billions of dollars on forging the perfect dream team, fan ownership has become a novelty for many of Europe's top soccer clubs. But it is a route that might just be the salvation of struggling Spanish team Real Oviedo, thanks to a social media campaign that has gone viral.
    Once a top-flight contender with La Liga heavyweights Real Madrid and Barcelona, the 86-year-old club -- based in the northern mining region of Asturias -- has until Saturday to raise €1.9 million ($2.4 million) or face extinction.
    So far Oviedo has received over €1 million in a period of just nine days -- with €274,000 coming from those who heard about it via Twitter, according to board member Juan Ramon. There is a Twitter hashtag set up -- #saverealoviedo.
    The football community is also doing its part to save the third division club, whose "cantera" youth academy -- or quarry -- is responsible for unearthing some of the gems of Spanish football. Names such as World Cup winner Juan Mata, Arsenal's little magician Santi Cazorla and Swansea's star striker Michu are all graduates.
    The English Premier League stars have joined forces to help save their former club, while Real Madrid legend Raul has bought €1,000 worth shares to keep Oviedo in business.
    Real Oviedo and Sporting de Gijon are the two major clubs in Asturias, once the heartland of Spanish coal mining and one of the country's most prosperous regions.
    But its coal industry has receded and the European debt crisis has engulfed Spain. Substantial investment has been hard to find as the Spanish government grapples with harsh austerity measures and chronic unemployment.
    Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney has 4.6 million followers on Twitter. The Premier League's new code of conduct on the use of social media sites is to underline to players the responsibility they have to such a big audience.
    Photos: Premier League issue Twitter code
    Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney has 4.6 million followers on Twitter. The Premier League's new code of conduct on the use of social media sites is to underline to players the responsibility they have to such a big audience.
    Photos: Premier League issue Twitter code
    Rooney Tunes – Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney has 4.6 million followers on Twitter. The Premier League's new code of conduct on the use of social media sites is to underline to players the responsibility they have to such a big audience.
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