Fabrizio Romano grabs the world’s attention with a single phrase: “Here we go!” As the 32-year-old Italian journalist hurtles through the chaos of football’s transfer market, he turns rumors into reality, agents into allies, and deadline days into global spectacles.
Born amid the passionate streets of Naples on February 21, 1993, Romano dreamed of lacing up boots for a living until he swapped cleats for keyboards and built an empire on insider scoops.
Now, with 26.5 million followers on X (formerly Twitter), he commands a digital army that hangs on every tweet, making him the most trusted voice in a field riddled with fakes and frenzy.
Romano kicked off his journey at age 16, scribbling match reports for Italian outlets while juggling high school in Naples. He hones his craft on small websites, chasing youth prospects and local deals. Fate intervened in 2011: An Italian agent in Barcelona tipped him off about Mauro Icardi’s impending move from the club’s youth academy to Sampdoria. Romano breaks the story first, forging a bond with Icardi that pays dividends two years later when the striker whispers details of his blockbuster switch to Inter Milan months ahead of rivals.
This scoop catapulted him into the spotlight, proving a teenager’s hustle trumps experience every time. By 2012, Sky Sport Italy snapped him up, thrusting Romano into Milan’s media whirlwind. He dives headfirst into Europe’s transfer trenches, cultivating sources from agents in Lisbon to scouts in London. Romano speaks four languages fluently: Italian, English, Spanish, and Portuguese, unlocking doors that bar lesser journalists.
He freelances for The Guardian and CBS Sports, but his true arena is X, where his @FabrizioRomano
handle pulses with real-time intel. Clubs like Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal devour his updates; fans refresh obsessively. His YouTube channel, launched in 2021, exploded to 2.8 million subscribers, racking up over 340 million views with breathless breakdowns of deals like Lionel Messi’s 2021 leap to PSG or Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2018 Juventus bombshell.
Profile: Fabrizio Romano
Profile at CBSSports: Fabrizio Romano
What sets Romano apart?
Relentless grind. He sleeps just five hours a night, mentors under veteran Gianluca Di Marzio, and verifies every whisper through a web of club insiders, player confidants, and airport spotters, echoing old-school tactics
The influence of Gianluca Di Marzio:
Built connections: While working under Di Marzio, Romano built his extensive network of contacts, which is now the foundation of his career.
Taught the value of verification: Di Marzio taught Romano the importance of a “slow journalism” approach, stressing that he must verify information with multiple sources, clubs, agents, and intermediaries to ensure accuracy over speed.
Instilled a strong work ethic: Romano has also cited Di Marzio as his inspiration for his tireless work ethic, which involves spending many hours a day on the phone and verifying news.
The Fabrizio Romano Effect:
Clubs now star him in announcement videos documenting his role as transfer royalty. 90min crowns him the most reliable source; even EA Sports immortalizes his avatar and “Here we go!” in FC 25.
Clubs that have featured Romano
Valencia CF: In August 2021, the Spanish club included Romano in a video on its Twitter (now X) account to announce the transfer of striker Marcos André.
FC Augsburg: In 2022, the German Bundesliga club featured Romano in their social media content when announcing the transfer of U.S. forward Ricardo Pepi.
Toronto F.C.: The Major League Soccer (MLS) team used Romano to help announce the signing of Italian playmaker Lorenzo Insigne.
Watford F.C.: Romano has appeared in content for the English club, including featuring in a video to launch a new jersey
How clubs benefit from featuring him:
Clubs use Romano’s reputation as a trusted transfer insider to create excitement and maximize the reach of their announcements.
Amplified reach: By including Romano, clubs can tap into his global audience of millions of followers across social media platforms, ensuring their news is seen by a vast and engaged audience.
Builds credibility: For fans, a deal is not truly complete until Romano confirms it with his “here we go” signature. When a club includes him, it adds a layer of confirmation and celebration to the official announcement.
Creates hype: This approach creates a celebratory, fan-centric atmosphere around new signings by acknowledging the modern transfer culture he has created
In a post-truth era of clickbait, Romano delivers truth at warp speed, turning “deal done” into cultural shorthand. As windows slam shut and new ones creak open, Fabrizio Romano charges ahead. He doesn’t chase the ball; he calls the play. Here we go, indeed.
