Football journalist Fabrizio Romano has discussed the challenges of verifying transfer information, managing his network of sources, and adapting to the demands of digital journalism in the opening episode of Season 5 of Bet It Drives, a podcast produced by iGaming technology provider GR8_TECH.
The episode features Romano in conversation with GR8_TECH Chief Strategy Officer and podcast host Yevhen Krazhan during a drive through Lisbon, exploring the reporting process behind his recognized “Here we go” transfer announcements.
Romano, who publishes more than 100 posts daily across multiple platforms during busy transfer windows, discussed how social media has transformed football journalism into a round-the-clock operation. His reporting reaches audiences through X, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and other digital channels.
Despite the growing demand for immediate updates, Romano said he remains opposed to restricting his transfer reporting to paying subscribers. “I want my information to be free,” Romano said, explaining his decision to reject subscription-based access to his news.
The discussion also examined how Romano evaluates information from different sources, including trusted contacts who require only one call and other reports that may take several days and multiple checks to verify.
“The transfer market looks like a puzzle in my mind,” Romano said. “You need to put the pieces at the right time and the right position.”
Beyond reporting methods, the conversation covered the career Romano nearly pursued instead of journalism, the origins of major transfer stories, and a Cristiano Ronaldo transfer development he came close to reporting first.
Romano also identified José Mourinho as his preferred football manager and named Cristiano Ronaldo as his next choice for a major football partnership with GR8_TECH. Krazhan said the episode sought to examine how Romano balances the pressure to publish quickly with the responsibility to verify information.
“Fabrizio has built something bigger than a football news account. He has changed how millions of people expect information to reach them: instantly, directly, and with a name behind it that they trust,” said Krazhan, the host of Bet It Drives.
“We wanted to understand the person making those calls: how he decides who to believe, when to move fast, when to wait, and what happens when being first and being right are competing against each other.”
Bet It Drives, hosted by Krazhan and supported by GR8_TECH, features conversations with iGaming industry executives and other guests about industry challenges, business developments, and professional experiences. Episodes combine interviews with informal discussions and games during drives through locations around the world.
The first episode of Season 5 is available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.