The name Fabrizio Romano is today synonymous with the transfer window and football transfers in general.
His legendary "Here we go" became a sign that the transfer was confirmed.
But behind every announcement are hours of verification, sleepless nights and, most importantly - trust.
“I do everything myself. I don't have a team, I don't have an office, I don't have an agency. It's the only way I can stay true to myself and my work,” says Romano, a 31-year-old Italian native of Naples.
Perišić - a machine that never gives up
When asked which player "trains 24/7", Romano singles out the Croatian national team player without hesitation.
"Ivan Perišić. After a serious injury, he returned to Hajduk, many thought it was over. And then - he plays in the Champions League again, goals, assists."
Romano compared the PSV player to a machine.
"That man is a machine, great mentality."
Modrić - a quiet genius and a promising coach
When the conversation turns to football visionaries, Fabrizio doesn't hesitate.
"Luka Modrić. He's a football brain. His intelligence, his leadership, his composure, playing like this at his age - he has all the qualities for a top coach. I don't know if he'll choose that, but he has the potential."
Romano says that he views Modrić with special respect and that among the players he is closest to the definition of a "football genius".
Bayern - the story that shook Germany
One of the most explosive and exclusive stories Romano has ever published concerns Bayern - when he revealed that Julian Nagelsmann was leaving and that Thomas Tuchel would succeed him.
“Bayern were first in the table. Nobody expected the change. I got the call: 'It's going to happen now'. I didn't believe it. It took hours to confirm everything. When I announced it, it exploded.”
Reactions in Germany were not lacking.
“Hasan Salihamidžić was furious. Lotar Mateus said: ‘How is it possible for an Italian to publish before the German media?’ That meant a lot to me. It showed how far I had come.”
Kol Palmer - the transfer that kept him awake at night
One of the anecdotes that best describes Romano's style happened in the middle of the night - when he learned of Cole Palmer's surprise transfer from Manchester City to Chelsea.
“Three in the morning. A source calls me and says, ‘Chelsea are taking Palmer. But don’t announce it yet.’ I couldn’t sleep. Nobody expected it. I announced it in the morning – the reaction was incredible.”
Messi, Maradona and modesty as the biggest impression
Romano followed the careers of both Messi and Ronaldo, but he remembers meeting Messi as a special moment.
“When he entered the room for our interview, I felt like I had come full circle. He asked me about Naples, about Italy. He was calm, kind, unhurried. That's my biggest impression - his modesty.”
However, when asked who his number one is, there is no doubt:
"I'm from Naples. For me it's always Maradona."
Credibility over speed
Romano is clear about accusations that some journalists, including himself, are receiving money to "push" certain transfers.
“If anyone has proof - let them show it. Everything I've built is based on trust. If I lose that - it's over.”
His approach: never in a hurry, always with confirmation.
“I get information from all sorts of sources, even some waiters. People send me a photo of a coach with a player. I don't publish it right away. I wait and check it carefully. That's why I still do this job.”
Sliding start before dribbling
Romano doesn't hide the fact that he wasn't a virtuoso on the field.
“Technique? Three. Maybe four. But the sliding start? Nine! That's my style. I watched Cannavaro, Baresi, Costacurta... defense is in my blood.”
While the world awaits the next "Here we go", Romano remains true to the same rules: everything must be accurate, confirmed and published at the right time.
Bonus video:
