Frosinone spent 8.5 million euros plus a potential bonus of 2 million to buy the Austrian Romano Schmid, a midfielder only 168cm tall. The choice, which aroused curiosity, was confirmed already in the first matches of the season: in nine appearances and 684 minutes, Schmid scored two goals and provided three assists, proving to be a point of reference for the team.
Schmid, born in Graz in 2000, began his career at Sturm Graz, then moved to Salzburg and established himself at Werder Bremen. His playing style, characterized by aggression and tactical intelligence, has attracted the attention of German coach Ralf Rangnick, who calls him “giftzwerg” – “poisonous dwarf” – for his small stature and ability to defeat more physically imposing opponents. In a recent interview, Schmid admitted that “big guys don't like playing against me,” noting that his aggression is a key element of his success.
The transfer to Frosinone was the most expensive for the yellow-blue club, surpassing the previous record of Tomas Bobcek, purchased for around 11 million plus bonuses. Despite the significant investment, Schmid has already proven that he is worth the expense, contributing decisively to the victory against Atalanta in the New Balance Arena, where he started the match with a quick goal and then scored a brace.
In addition to his performances on the pitch, Schmid is known for his nickname “Zauberer” (magician), a name he also chose for his football boots at 15. His idols include Messi, Götze and Paulo Dybala, from whom he draws inspiration for his calf tattoo, which depicts a crowned football.
With the results obtained so far, the "poisonous dwarf" from Frosinone can no longer be considered a risk. The club hopes that his presence will continue to provide an offensive boost and consolidate the team's position in the league table. In the next round, Frosinone will face a crucial challenge that will test Schmid's ability to maintain his level of performance.