Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano now finds himself in the black books of a lot of Twitter users following an erroneous exclusive report on Josko Gvardiol’s transfer to Manchester City that was corrected through the Twitter Community Notes check.
EXCLUSIVE: Joško Gvardiol to Man City, here we go! Agreement reached on the fee between City and Leipzig 🔵🇭🇷
🚨 Understand Gvardiol has completed the first part of medical tests today — deal on the verge of being signed.
Romano gave the Croatia international defender’s move his stamp of approval on July 19, using his catchphrase ‘Here we go’ to announce that the transfer was imminent.
Additionally, he wrote that the transfer fee was agreed between RB Leipzig, the centre-back’s current club, and the reigning European champions.
Moreover, he mentioned that Gvardiol had completed the first part of his medical tests on the same day.
Personal terms between the defender and the Citizens were agreed a month earlier, he went on to add.
Of course, only notes rated helpful by contributors with diverse perspectives will appear on posts as per the Community Notes Guide.
Any Twitter user is eligible to become a Notes contributor so long as they have no recent violations of Twitter rules, have been a Twitter user for six months or longer, and have a verified phone number from a trusted phone carrier.
It is hoped that more people will sign up to write and rate notes so as to make the program effective in its bid to “create a better-informed world.”
Romano’s update was proved to be false with a link to the words of Max Eberl, Managing Director for Sport of Die Roten Bullen.
Eberl confirmed that the two sides are still far apart in their respective evaluations of the Croatian.
He further noted that no part of the defender’s medical had been completed.
Romano’s words were also used as he was forced to backtrack on his update the next day, confirming that the two sides have yet to agree on a fee.
He added that though a verbal agreement had been reached and a medical booked, issues on the side of both clubs owing to the leak meant that the medical was not greenlit.
The 30-year-old pointed out that the deal is still on the cards and far from dead in the water.
Gvardiol deal. Tension with Man City and Leipzig during final stage of negotiations — Joško he didn’t complete the medical yet ⚠️🇭🇷
Verbal agreement reached yesterday — medical booked today but then issues on clubs side after leak and no green light to medical.
Responses to the notes added to Romano’s tweet were divided, with some unhappy at the criticism received by the transfer expert and pointing to his success rate.
It is certain that Pep Guardiola’s side are wise to pursue Gvardiol as they lost their last pre-season game 2-1 to Atletico Madrid in Seoul.
Moreover, during the Citizens’ pre-season tour of Asia, they conceded six goals in three games which is sure to give Guardiola some pause.
They will begin their defence of the Premier League against newly-promoted Burnley, coached by one of Guardiola’s former charges Vincent Kompany.
At just 21 years of age, the highly-rated Gvardiol, if signed, can be counted on to become a long-time servant of the club as Guardiola continues to build a dynasty at Etihad Stadium.
