Fabrizio Romano has caused a stir on X after claiming reports on social media scuppered Lucas Paqueta’s move from West Ham to Aston Villa this summer.
The Italian transfer expert dropped the bombshell news on It’s Called Soccer as he explained the nature of social media and the part it has to play in modern football.
Paqueta was seemingly on the verge of a move to Villa Park earlier in the summer transfer window with manager Unai Emery desperate to land the Brazilian attacker to join his squad.
A loan deal with an obligation to buy at the end of it was seemingly almost agreed between both Premier League clubs but the move eventually fell through with the Hammers opting against allowing their playmaker to leave.
Romano claimed the deal was close to being completed but that he and other journalists may have broke the story too early for West Ham’s liking.
Fabrizio Romano says social media scuppered Lucas Paqueta’s Aston Villa move
And he says it is just one of many deals over the years that have been ruined by reports online.
“Trust me, today there are many deals that collapsed because of social media reporting,” Romano revealed.
“It is not just about me. It is also about other excellent journalists out there who can break a story and create a problem to the deal.
“If social media didn’t exist, Paqueta would be an Aston Villa player!”
Fabrizio Romano reveals Lucas Paqueta’s deal to Aston Villa only fell through due to early leaks… pic.twitter.com/QEO8rDtuw8
— george (@StokeyyG2) September 11, 2025
“I can guarantee to you that if there wasn’t social media, Lucas Paqueta would be an Aston Villa player now.
“And now he is at West Ham because the deal collapsed because of the leaks too early, or maybe in a crucial stage of the negotiation and making people upset at West Ham.
“So this can happen. I think social media is sometimes a problem to the negotiations. But this is also part of the game. It’s part of life, but I’m sure two or three days before the negotiation was quite advanced.”
Romano’s comments may not have come as a surprise, but they do force thought into what has become a dangerous issue to clubs.
What Paqueta has said about his West Ham future
Mega money is often at stake with big clubs in England’s top flight while a player’s livelihood can also be affected by external issues.
We know Paqueta will be on a hefty salary at West Ham already but his future plans to play in Europe, for example, and his desire to compete at that level could take a hit.
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The player himself has now taken to his Instagram account to essentially confirm what was said about his summer move plans.
And he appears to have signaled when it will be he does decide to leave the London Stadium.
He wrote: “It’s about choosing those who welcomed you, who never judged you, who believed in you until the very last moment, who loved you and made you feel at home.
“It’s about staying loyal not only when you had everything, but also when there was nothing… It’s not time to say goodbye yet! Let’s go together for one more season.”
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