Fabrizio Romano reportedly threatened and deletes post on Artem Bondarenko transfer
Romano deleted his post after claims that Al-Ahli pressured him over a reported €18m plus €1m bonuses transfer for Artem Bondarenko.
Fabrizio Romano says he removed a social-media post after receiving threats linked to Al-Ahli’s handling of a recent signing. The Italian transfer reporter had published financial details around the arrival of Ukrainian midfielder Artem Bondarenko before deleting the message.
Reported pressure and numbers
Romano’s original post listed the transfer fee as €18 million plus €1 million in potential bonuses. According to Saudi journalist Walid Al Faraj, Al-Ahli’s leadership reacted strongly to those figures and pressured Romano to take the information down.
"The Al-Ahli management threatened Romano. They announced they would publish an official denial of the figures he reported," wrote Al Faraj, describing the club’s response.
Following the reported threats, Romano removed the post containing the transfer details. The club later confirmed the player’s signing through its official channels, but supporters reportedly opposed the arrival and the club avoided a prominent social-media announcement.
Bondarenko, listed as a 25-year-old attacking central midfielder, now faces a difficult start in Saudi Arabia: public resistance from fans and a transfer announcement shadowed by off-field tension.
Observers say the episode highlights how high-profile transfer reporting can collide with club image management in markets where large sums raise stakes and sensitivities for both reporters and clubs.
Photo: press material from the event
