Fabrizio Romano reflects on independent media’s impact at BRIDGE

Football journalist Fabrizio Romano, whose rapid-fire exclusives helped build one of the world’s most influential news platforms, highlighted the importance of independent journalism on redefining global influence at the BRIDGE Summit on Monday.

In a packed Forum Stage session titled ‘Independent Media’s Biggest Powerplayers’, Romano, who holds more than 70 million social media followers across platforms, joined international moderator Ali Aslan to explore how real-time reporting, personality-led news and creator-driven platforms are transforming the architecture of modern media.

Romano, whose signature phrase “Here we go!” has become one of the most instantly recognisable expressions in global football culture, reflected on how his rise was driven entirely by audience trust rather than strategy.

“None of this was planned,” said the Italian, whose breakthrough came in 2011 when he received insider information from an Italian agent in Barcelona about then-Barcelona youth player Mauro Icardi.

Romana emphasised that "it came out of nowhere," his efforts recognised after initially posting Manchester United transfer stories continously.

"Some of those negotiations often go on for long and eventually when they end, I’d say ‘here we go’ [to the next story]. People connected with that authenticity. Soon they were asking me to say it for Real Madrid, for Barcelona, for everyone. It wasn’t a brand idea. It was the audience deciding what mattered”, he added.

Romano recalled his first major scoop on breaking the news of Bruno Fernandes’ move to Manchester United by posting a photo of the midfielder boarding a private jet with his agent. 

Romano said the moment underscored the power of persistence and personal networks over size of newsroom.

“People imagine big stories only come from big institutions, but it’s often the small connections that matter. You build your network brick by brick, you respect people, and you do the work. That’s how the real exclusives come.”