An exclusive Sofascore interview with the world’s most followed football journalist
45 minutes of small talk, big names, and stoppage time.
When the world’s most trusted football journalist takes a break from breaking news, you listen.
In the latest episode of A Guest and a Half, Sofascore sat down with Fabrizio Romano — the voice behind “Here we go” — for a rare, extended chat about transfers, trust, football ethics, and the thrill of timing it just right. And yes, his phone was on the table the entire time.
Catch the full episode on Sofascore’s YouTube channel here:
“Sometimes waiting costs you the story.”
From Cole Palmer’s late-night switch to Chelsea to the shock dismissal of Julian Nagelsmann at Bayern, Fabrizio shared what it’s really like to operate inside the transfer market’s pressure cooker.
“The hardest part of my job now? Not getting the news — it’s publishing it at the right time. Sometimes you hold back to protect someone — a player, a club. But when you wait, you risk losing the story.”
And yet, when it matters, he gets it right. From the Zinedine Zidane exit to Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United, Fabrizio has consistently been the first to break the biggest moves in world football.
“The Ronaldo stream felt like a stadium. 98,000 people live on Twitch. It was like Old Trafford under the lights.”
Watford, video games, and a 3AM phone call
Romano’s heart might be Italian, but his football soul clearly has English roots. Raised in Naples, he surprised viewers by naming Watford as one of his favourite clubs.
“Napoli were in Serie C when I was a kid. But Watford had Italian owners, and I picked them on video games. Then Troy Deeney scored that goal against Leicester — I screamed. That moment sealed it.”
It’s a love story only football fans would understand. So is the way he got the scoop on Cole Palmer at 3:00 AM from a trusted source — the kind of tip that changes your week (and Palmer’s career).
Transfer news, timing, and the truth about Cucurella
Fabrizio also addressed one of his most famous clashes — Brighton publicly denying his scoop about Marc Cucurella’s transfer to Chelsea.
“They said I was wrong. Social media came after me hard. But I knew the deal was done. I tweeted, ‘We’ll see who lied.’ Two days later, Chelsea confirmed it. That was my Champions League moment.”
Despite the pressure, he sticks to one principle: be transparent or don’t publish at all.
“I share everything with my face and my name. I can be right or wrong, but I don’t hide. That’s transparency.”
“Bring the proof.” Standing firm against critics
Criticism comes with the job. But when it turns personal, Fabrizio doesn’t flinch.
“Some say I’m paid by players. My answer is simple: bring the proof. Still waiting. If that ever happened, I’d shut down my accounts that same day.”
Messi, Ronaldo… and Maradona
Among the most personal moments? Meeting Lionel Messi.
“It felt like I completed my career. He wasn’t rushed. He asked about Napoli, talked to the crew. Super kind. That’s what stayed with me.”
And when asked the inevitable comparison — Messi or Ronaldo — Fabrizio’s answer was pure Napoli.
“I always say Diego Maradona. I’m from Naples. Diego is our everything. But honestly, we’re lucky to have lived through all three.”
Meme-worthy moments and a magnetic football board
In one of the show’s most playful segments, Romano placed famous football names on a Sofascore-style locker room board:
- Gianluca Di Marzio: always on the phone
- Antonio Conte: always angry (but in a good way)
- Ivan Perišić: trains 24/7
- Luka Modrić: future coach
- Neymar: party animal
- Cristiano Ronaldo: surprisingly jokey
- Gavi: football’s young Braveheart
He even rated his own playing skills: a slow defender with no technique, but solid tackling instincts.
The story that started it all
Asked about his first-ever scoop, Fabrizio recalled an anonymous tip about a young player leaving La Masia.
“I was a teenager writing for a small site. A guy working near Barça’s academy told me: ‘Mauro Icardi is joining Sampdoria.’ I published it. No one cared. Then he started scoring. That changed everything.”
Later, the same source told him Icardi would join Inter — and that it would be president Moratti’s final deal. It was.
“That was my first exclusive. That’s when it all began.”
A dream “Here we go” and what comes next
For someone who lives on the edge of news, the next frontier is about making it even more real.
“One day, I want to do a ‘Here we go’ live from a stadium. 70,000 fans. Transfer announced on the spot. That would be crazy.”
Until then, he’s staying exactly where fans need him — one tweet, call, or confirmation away from the next big move.
You can read the whole interview with Fabrizio Romano on this link.