Romano and Plettenberg’s Transfer Rivalry Turns Public as ‘Fake News’ Row Escalates

Fabrizio Romano and Florian Plettenberg exchange sharp accusations over Jan Diomand transfer reports, reigniting debate about sourcing, timing and transfer journalism.

The long-running rivalry between football transfer insiders Fabrizio Romano and Florian Plettenberg spilled into public view this week, with both journalists accusing each other of spreading misinformation during the race to break the latest transfer developments surrounding RB Leipzig teenager Jan Diomand.

What began as a disagreement over the 19-year-old winger’s proposed move to Real Madrid quickly evolved into a wider dispute over journalistic standards, source attribution and reporting accuracy.

According to Bavarian Football Works, the confrontation unfolded across social media platform X after a Chelsea supporter account highlighted conflicting reports from the two transfer experts regarding Diomand’s future.

The disagreement intensified when Romano dismissed claims that Manchester City were preparing a €100 million bid for the highly rated youngster, branding those reports as “fake news.” Romano insisted City had already stepped away from the race and maintained that Real Madrid were firmly leading negotiations.

Rather than remaining a disagreement over the player’s destination, the exchange soon shifted towards each journalist’s reporting methods. Romano appeared to mock Plettenberg for discussing the issue without mentioning him directly, adding another layer of tension to the growing dispute.

Plettenberg quickly defended himself, arguing that he had never claimed Manchester City had submitted an official offer. Instead, he said his reporting only indicated the Premier League champions were willing to spend that amount if they pursued the player. Labelling his work as “fake news,” he argued, crossed a professional line.

The German journalist also took aim at Romano’s own reporting history, referencing Romano’s use of the famous “Here We Go” catchphrase during the appointment of Jürgen Klopp as Germany’s national team manager before the German Football Association had formally completed the process.

As the exchange gathered momentum, Plettenberg broadened his criticism. He accused Romano of publishing transfer stories before deals were fully agreed, reporting outcomes before negotiations had concluded and quietly deleting posts when situations later changed. He also suggested Romano does not always provide sufficient credit to the original journalists who first break stories, particularly on Instagram.

Romano responded by returning to the wording of Plettenberg’s original report on Diomand. According to Romano, the report implied Manchester City were actively preparing an offer. Plettenberg rejected that interpretation, insisting there was a significant distinction between a club being willing to pay a transfer fee and actually submitting a formal bid.

Although both journalists later indicated they did not wish to continue a public feud, neither backed away from defending the accuracy of their reporting. Ironically, despite the heated exchange, both ultimately agreed on the same conclusion—that Diomand is expected to join Real Madrid. Their disagreement centred not on the player’s destination, but on who reported the story first and how each stage of the negotiations was described.

The dispute took another personal turn when Romano claimed Plettenberg had privately contacted him several years ago seeking advice on growing his social media following and using his reporting as inspiration. Romano used the allegation to suggest his rival had once admired his work before becoming one of his biggest critics. However, he did not publish screenshots of the alleged conversation.

Meanwhile, the transfer itself remains unfinished. Reports indicate Real Madrid have increased their offer to between £94 million and £98 million, with further negotiations still required before a final agreement is reached. The eventual transfer fee is expected to be close to £102 million if talks conclude successfully.

Should the deal be completed at that figure, Diomand would become the most expensive African footballer in history, surpassing the £72 million Arsenal paid for Nicolas Pépé in 2019. Spanish side Leganés are also expected to benefit from the transfer through a sell-on clause reportedly worth between 5 and 8 per cent of the final fee.