Fabrizio Romano faces backlash over a Saudi promo video after the famous transfer insider posted a sponsored clip praising a Saudi humanitarian group, stirring up sharp criticism that has fans questioning his independence and reliability.
The Italian journalist, known for his quick scoops and “Here we go” catchphrase, dropped the two-minute video on X this week, highlighting the work of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center – a government-backed outfit – and tagging it #ad to mark it as paid content.
In the footage, Romano reads statistics about the center’s projects across more than 100 countries over the past decade and calls Saudi Arabia a leader in global relief efforts. The video quickly racked up millions of views, but the response from viewers turned ugly.
Fans flooded the comments with anger, accusing him of crossing into straight-up propaganda instead of sticking to football news. Some drew attention to Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and the ongoing conflicts in the region, describing the timing as either tone-deaf or worse.
Outlets such as L’Équipe published articles describing it as a test of his credibility, highlighting how Romano has amassed a substantial following – more than 27 million on X alone – by presenting himself as a straightforward reporter.
Critics now argue that Romano’s paid position blurs the boundaries between journalism and influencer gigs, particularly given his frequent coverage of Saudi Pro League transfers. One writer referred to it as a low point for the football media, implying that it aids Riyadh in enhancing its image through sport, while Romano profits from it.
The heat got so intense that Romano reportedly brought in lawyers to handle the fallout and shield his reputation. He hasn’t said much publicly since the post, turning down interview requests, but he seems to stand by the content – the center partners with groups like UNICEF, after all. Still, the move has people debating whether big followings come with bigger responsibilities or if sponsored posts are just part of the game these days.
Romano rose fast in the transfer world by breaking deals early and reliably, earning trust from clubs, agents, and fans alike. His platform grew huge, turning him into a brand with deals across social channels.
But this Saudi clip shifted the conversation. Some defend him, saying everyone takes sponsorships and he disclosed it clearly. Others aren’t buying it, calling for him to focus on transfers and skip the side hustles that risk tainting his reports, as they believe that maintaining journalistic integrity is crucial in sports reporting.
When a trusted voice promotes a state-linked cause – especially one tied to a country investing heavily in football through big signings like Cristiano Ronaldo – it raises eyebrows.
A few days after the video, Romano shared an exclusive, saying Ronaldo wasn’t leaving Saudi Arabia, despite rumours, which only added fuel for those who see bias creeping in.
Fans online split hard. Comments range from “Stick to here we go” to outright calls to unfollow. Some mocked the stiff delivery in the promo; others shared Amnesty International links about Saudi issues right under his post – X even added a community note pointing to human rights reports.
The backlash shows how quickly trust can fade when people think a favourite source might change their minds about money. Romano continues to post transfer updates as usual for now, but the shadow remains.
Whether the controversy dents his long-term standing remains to be seen – his track record on deals stays strong, and plenty still hang on his every word.
But the episode serves as a reminder to everyone in the game that trust takes time to build and breaks quickly.
In a world where followers equal power, one sponsored video can make people think about things for a long time, potentially influencing their trust and perception of public figures like Romano. Fans of football are watching closely to see if Romano gets better or if this is a turning point in how they feel about him.
