Who do we turn to when a transfer rumor needs confirmation? There are thousands of sources worldwide, most claiming to have the right news—until they’re proven wrong. But two people rarely are, and that’s why fans rely on them the most: Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein.
Of course, many other journalists are just as reliable, but Romano and Ornstein have been at the top for some time. No one delivers news faster—or with more certainty—than they do.
Given how competitive football journalism is, it’s only natural that they’d try to outpace each other in breaking news. But does that make them rivals?
“He’s your archnemesis!” 😈
David Ornstein spills the tea on his clash with Fabrizio Romano, and the race for wonderkid Nypan! 🔥 ✍️ pic.twitter.com/B6Z1ZfFp4K
— The Overlap (@WeAreTheOverlap) January 28, 2025
Jamie Carragher recently raised this question while speaking to Ornstein on The Overlap. The former Liverpool defender asked whether his back-and-forth exchanges with Romano—often disagreements over transfer news—suggested a rivalry. “He’s your archnemesis,” Carragher said.
Ornstein, seemingly keen to avoid controversy, played it down, saying they were just colleagues. However, his response came with a smile, and he even laughed when Carragher sarcastically said he believed him. That reaction might suggest they don’t always see eye to eye.
Does Ornstein see Romano as a rival?
Ornstein and Romano are the two most famous football — perhaps even sports — journalists in the world, and provide accurate information related to transfers and other news subjects, more often than not.
In an older Q&A for The Athletic, Ornstein was asked the same question Carragher put in front of him earlier this week and unlike this time, his answer was much more detailed. He did admit to seeing Romano (and others) as rival, but insisted that it is good for the entire field.
“I get asked this a lot,” he said. “I think there’s healthy rivalry across the industry because everybody is trying to do their best for themselves and their employers.”
“But there is enormous respect across the board. Fabrizio and so many others are absolutely brilliant at their jobs and we acknowledge that’s great for sports journalism and the public.”
Ornstein added that being first is important in the industry he made a name for himself in, but not at the cost of being incorrect. “If you can achieve both, bingo!”
How fans view Romano and Ornstein
When it comes to social media popularity, Fabrizio Romano stands out with over 20 million followers on X (formerly Twitter), compared to David Ornstein’s 3 million. However, this disparity is largely due to Romano’s high activity levels and his status as an independent journalist.
Romano has collaborated with media outlets like Sky Italy and Twitch in the past, but he built his empire through the personal connections he fostered with relentless hard work. Unlike Ornstein, he is highly commercial, having partnered with brands such as Heineken and even popularized his own catchphrase, Here We Go, which has inspired many aspiring journalists to follow a similar career path.
Ornstein, on the other hand, has taken a more corporate approach. After spending 13 years at the BBC, he joined The Athletic in 2019, where he continues to work today. His classy, direct, and non-commercial style of reporting has made him a trusted source among football fans seeking reliable news.
🐐 Fabrizio Romano vs. David Ornstein is the Messi vs. Ronaldo of the transfer world. 🐐
🗣️ “Just enjoy em man.” pic.twitter.com/gYkuhkW3aR
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) January 7, 2025
Romano’s high activity, while a key factor in his success, has occasionally led to errors in reporting—though these instances are rare. He is also known to source information from other journalists, including Ornstein, and relay it on his social media, sometimes leading to the perception that he is the original source.
That’s not something Ornstein is known for.
