Fabrizio Romano Transfer News: Camara drama, Enzo 'class' - and hint on his own future

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Matthew Judge | Editor

Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on several transfer stories, including the latest on Lamine Camara, Enzo Fernandez - and his own future in sports media.

Romano to provide update on his future soon

Romano says he will clarify his future in sports media “in the next days” after previously suggesting he could pursue other ventures.

The transfer insider, who has millions of followers across several social media platforms, hinted at a major career change on LinkedIn in August.

Romano posted a cryptic message which read: “I'm probably NOT going to continue into the transfer market industry as I'm doing right now for longer.”

And in a new YouTube video, the Italian said: “In the next days I will be here on the channel also to explain to you what’s going to be the plan for the near future.

“You might have seen some stories around about what I’m going to do, but it’s always going to be me telling you what’s going to be the plan about my future.

“Also in reporting, what we are going to do here on the channel, so we will keep you posted very soon.”

Romano has become a go-to source for transfer news in recent years but faced criticism for his reporting during the summer window.

Chelsea furious over collapse of Camara deal

The relationship between Chelsea and Monaco is “completely broken” following the collapse of Lamine Camara’s move to Stamford Bridge, Romano says.

Camara had completed a medical ahead of a proposed move to Chelsea, only for Monaco to pull the plug as Folarin Balogun edged closer to joining Everton.

Ligue 1 side Monaco needed to make one major sale and decided to proceed with the Balogun deal over the Camara sale - to the anger of Chelsea.

But in a dramatic end to the summer transfer window, Balogun refused to join Everton, meaning Monaco failed to generate the funds they desperately needed.

Recounting the incident, Romano said: “Chelsea [were] completely furious, they had an agreement done, a medical on the way, and then: deal off, deal collapsed.

“So the relationship [between] Chelsea [and] Monaco, I think from tonight, [as long] as these people are in charge on both sides, is completely broken.”

Blues handled Fernandez situation with ‘class’

Chelsea acted with “class” by allowing Enzo Fernandez to join Manchester City despite the collapse of the Camara deal, in the opinion of Romano.

The Blues identified Senegal international Camara as a replacement for Fernandez, who joined Man City for a joint-British record fee of €145.7m (£125m).

Romano says Chelsea were well within their rights to abort the Fernandez transfer after missing out on Camara but deserve credit for how they handled the situation.

“Let me say one thing: Chelsea have been class,” Romano said.

“Chelsea had the possibility after the drama with Lamine Camara to call Manchester City and say, ‘sorry, we lost our replacement, and so Fernandez can’t come to Manchester City anymore’.

“But Chelsea decided to maintain their word to Enzo Fernandez, maintain their word to Manchester City, maintain their word regarding the deal, and to still give the green light for Enzo to go to Manchester City, because Chelsea behaved as a serious club in this situation.”

Man Utd prevented Zirkzee from joining Everton

Manchester United blocked Joshua Zirkzee from joining Everton on deadline day as they did not want to leave themselves short of options, Romano added.

The Toffees turned to Netherlands international Zirkzee when complications first arose regarding Balogun, who failed his medical with David Moyes’ side.

Everton were happy to go ahead with deal after renegotiating the terms with Monaco, before Balogun had a change of heart at the eleventh hour.

All the while Everton had a proposal for Zirkzee rejected by United, with the Red Devils needing cover for Benjamin Sesko in attack.

STATS

Joshua Zirkzee

F (C)

Man Utd

Joshua Zirkzee

F (C)

Man Utd

All Tournaments

2025/26

• 26

  Games

• 2

  Goals

• 1

  Assists

View all stats

Romano said: “Zirkzee wants to play football, that’s the reality. Juventus, Fiorentina, Everton, anything, he [just] wants to play football on a regular basis.

“He wants to feel important, so Zirkzee was ready to go to Everton but Man United said: ‘no, thanks. [There is] no chance for this deal to happen because we don’t have a replacement’.

“So when you have Champions League football and you can’t [rely] one single player [up front], obviously, it was not possible [to let Zirkzee leave].”

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