Fabrizio Romano spoke at the Web Summit in 2021. Photo courtesy of Sporting News.
MARIA CLARA KOLLER | STAFF REPORTER | mkollerfernandez@butler.edu
Overtime, or “OT,” is an opinion column series where the Collegian takes national sports headlines or polarizing topics and gives them a Butler-centric angle.
It is not an overstatement to say Fabrizio Romano is the world’s single most influential soccer journalist. He has completely revolutionized not just the way transfers are announced, but also the way the transfer market works. His impact goes beyond the fans and into the game itself. He has 22.6 million followers on X and 32.4 million followers on Instagram. However, these numbers do not even begin to encompass the true extent of his influence.
Every transfer is sealed by his trademark phrase, “Here we go”. Those three seemingly simple words can be either a dagger in the heart of one fanbase, or music to the ears of another. Regardless of the situation, the entire soccer world turns to Romano.
Junior international business major and avid AC Milan fan Tomasso Carfora enjoys Romano’s coverage.
“I think that Romano is a relevant resource in the world of [soccer] because he immediately updates people about everything,” Carfora said.
Romano has been known for having a screen time of 17 hours and tweeting up to 100 times per day with insights on player negotiations, contracts, transfers and injuries. During the 2021 summer transfer window, Romano confirmed defender Maya Yoshida’s transfer from Sampdoria to Schalke, stating he had many offers including one from Turkish club Trabzonspor. Yoshida infamously replied, “This guy is incredible … even my wife didn’t know about Trabzonspor!”.
Since announcing his first transfer — forward Mauro Icardi to Sampdoria — the soccer insider has a near impeccable track record. Not only does Romano know exactly which players are leaving their clubs, teams that are in the race to sign a player and insights on contract extensions, but he knows and reveals that information months before it is officially announced by the clubs — which is part of the reason why he is such a controversial figure.
Despite Romano’s remarkable ability to obtain and communicate insights into every event happening in the world of soccer, there is no denying he has completely revolutionized the way fans interact with their favorite teams. Information fans used to wait months or even years for, Romano provides in seconds.
Although Romano is the most reliable individual in world soccer, his work has come to ruin part of the beautiful game; his lack of ethics, timing and information poses a true threat.
Martine Cardichon, a senior music and electrical engineering double major and lifelong soccer fan, does not agree with Romano’s timing.
“I try not to take Fabrizio Romano too seriously,” Cardichon said. “[He delivers] mostly accurate news in the messiest way.”
Although the information provided by Romano is usually credible, true and immediate, fans are upset with the way he has been responsible for altering one of soccer’s most special and key experiences, as well as the ethics surrounding his news.
Implications for transfers
On Sept. 2nd, 2013, at around 11:00 pm, reporter Geraint Hughes stood outside the Emirates Stadium. Behind him stood a flood of ecstatic Arsenal fans, all crammed together behind the SkySports reporter, eager to show their faces on TV. With 30 minutes left until the transfer window deadline, Hughes announced that midfielder Mesut Ozil would play for Premier League giants following his transfer from Real Madrid. The fans cheered as if they had just won the league and Hughes was quickly swallowed in the sea of the elated Gunners.
Ozil’s deadline-day transfer is one of the most iconic instances of what life was like before Romano. Fans had no idea of transfers until they were officially announced by the clubs.
Speculation was quickly shut down by managers and club officials, meaning there was no real way of knowing whether a transfer was going to go through or not. Fans were left stunned when star players left their teams, as they had no way to see it coming.
Now, fans are aware of some of the largest deals months before they are announced by the players or teams. Forward Erling Haaland’s move to Manchester City or forward Kylian Mbappé’s transfer to Real Madrid are just two of the largest deals in the past few years to be revealed by Romano, months before both clubs had officially announced them.
“I do think he’s fundamentally changed the way transfers are announced,” Cardichon said, “I would prefer the club announce the transfer news, maybe building up the anticipation this way.”
Romano’s method for announcing transfers and insider information has revolutionized the way the transfer market works. Before Romano and social media, the market was exclusively for players and clubs. However, now that Romano publicly informs fans of every step in contract and fee negotiations, medicals and transfer details, the fans become involved in transfers their clubs attempt to complete even if they do not end up happening.
In one of the rare instances where Romano has wrongly confirmed a transfer, he claimed midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum would join Barcelona in 2021 as a free agent. Wijnaldum ended up joining PSG and Barcelona faced backlash for not being able to acquire the Netherlands international, despite never publicly claiming they were in the race to sign the defender.
Similarly, Romano also claimed forward Lionel Messi would sign a contract extension with Barcelona in 2021. Nevertheless, Messi ended up leaving the Catalan club after 17 seasons.
It is clear that Romano has completely altered an essential part of the game, primarily the relationship fans have with clubs and the transfer market. However, his impact stems further than just announcing transfers, going as far as interfering with player retirements and prestigious award ceremonies.
Implications for players’ retirements
Another instance where Romano caused controversy came when he announced the retirement of midfielder Thiago Alcantara before the former Liverpool midfielder got a chance to break the news himself. This instance has caused fans to question Romano’s ethics when it comes to breaking news, particularly since this year he withdrew from revealing midfielder Toni Kroos’ retirement out of respect for Kroos. It begs the question — why did Romano reserve that treatment for Kroos but not for Alcantara?
“I thought Romano breaking the news of Alcantara’s retirement was a bit classless,” Cardichon said. “His word has power and he has to wield it more responsibly.”
Romano’s lack of ethics regarding certain aspects of the game has led to even more controversy surrounding his name. Even though he is aware of every occurance in the transfer market, that does not necessarily mean he has to reveal that information. Put simply, Romano has clearly demonstrated that he does not understand the responsibility that comes with his job.
Implications for the Ballon D’or
One of the key instances where Romano’s interference caused another controversy was in the 2023 Ballon d’Or — the most prestigious award in world soccer. That year, the award was controversial for two main reasons; the first being Messi was awarded the Ballon d’Or, narrowly beating Haaland, who scored 56 goals in 57 games and won the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup. The second reason for its controversy was the way Messi’s victory was announced. Romano announced that Messi beat Haaland to the Ballon d’Or five days before the actual ceremony. Not only that, but he also announced that midfielder Jude Bellingham would win the Kopa Trophy for best player under 21 and that Emiliano Martinez would take home the Lev Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper.
Finance major Timothee Arz acknowledges how problematic Romano’s insights can be.
“He can give [good insights] about [soccer],” Arz said. “Sometimes [he] goes too far and can create fake dramas for nothing.”
As always, Romano was right about all three awards. However, his reveal of the winners in last year’s Ballon d’Or was the tipping point in a problem fans had been slowly expressing for a while. There is no denying Romano’s greatness when it comes to insider information in all parts of the game. However, in some cases, ignorance is bliss and breaking certain news can actually have negative consequences. There is no point in knowing who the Ballon d’Or winner is before the ceremony, as it completely undermines the need for the event itself. Romano’s actions have even caused fans to question the credibility of the prestigious award.
One of the most essential aspects of soccer is that it creates moments that are completely unexpected. Whether it is a 90th minute winner, a penalty shootout, announcing that year’s Ballon d’Or winner or transfers on deadline day — part of the spirit of soccer has always resided from the unanticipated. Romano is a clear threat to that charm. The Italian journalist disposes of the suspense that once united soccer fans; by announcing transfers and award winners, he eliminates an essential part of the game.
For better or for worse, Romano and social media have allowed for fans to be within reach of huge amounts of information — more than fans ever thought possible. This is a transition that will happen whether fans are ready or not, as social media becomes more and more involved in our lives. However, this new experience comes at the expense of tradition and ethics and it is up to Romano to find the balance.
