Author: Joe Soriano

Joe Soriano is the editor of The Trivela Effect and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2010. He’s led top digital communities like The Real Champs (Real Madrid) and has run sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. He also helped manage NFL Spin Zone and Daily DDT, covering the NFL and pro wrestling.

Brazil fans came to the Joao Pedro realization Carlo Ancelotti already did
6Jul By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Brazil fans came to the Joao Pedro realization Carlo Ancelotti already did

Brazil were knocked out of the World Cup in the Round of 16 for their worst tournament finish in decades, as Norway took them down 2-1. The Selecao wasted so many great changes from Vinicius Junior, flubbed a penalty, and defended poorly in a disaster class that further sinks the reputations of Neymar, Gabriel Magalhaes, Casemiro, and other players who were overrated. Ney, in particular, has opened up a conversation in the fan base. He was only selected, despite being injured and playing horribly for months, because fans pressured Carlo Ancelotti into making a decision that disgraced the team. Although he scored cooly from the spot, Neymar was horrendous. He looked beyond finished, unable to create chances or dribble past any defenders while selfishly holding back Vinicius Junior - t...
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David Ornstein revealed what Chelsea fans never expected about Andrey Santos to Man United transfer
5Jul By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

David Ornstein revealed what Chelsea fans never expected about Andrey Santos to Man United transfer

Chelsea have been trying to sign Granit Xhaka, the former Arsenal captain, from Sunderland at the behest of Xabi Alonso, as the Swiss international was the Spanish manager's key leader in the Bundesliga when his Bayer Leverkusen made history by going undefeated. While the Blues have been able to avoid losing their own star No. 6, Enzo Fernandez, with Real Madrid dropping out of the race for the 2022 World Cup hero, they could lose a young gem from the midfield. David Ornstein of The Athletic has confirmed that Manchester United are exploring a deal to sign Andrey Santos away from Chelsea, and he says that the Red Devils have even made enquiries to the agents of the player, as have other clubs. The 22 year old Brazilian appears to want out, but his transfer will hinge on the price....
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Fabrizio Romano spilled the tea on Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea transfer
5Jul By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Fabrizio Romano spilled the tea on Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea transfer

Chelsea needed to sign a top center back last season but failed to do so, and the ensuing fallout cost the club Enzo Maresca, who is now replacing Pep Guardiola for Manchester City, and led to a spiraling in results that the former manager had predicted. So far, the Blues are cleaning house at center back, with Trevoh Chalobah potentially headed to Como in Serie A or another club, while Como are also interested in young Mamadou Sarr on loan. What Chelsea need, though, is an established, proven Premier League starter at center back. Maxence Lacroix, who has stepped out of the shadow of former Chelsea man Marc Guehi after the latter's big winter move to Manchester City, has been on the radar. And now, Fabrizio Romano has an updated report on the underrated Frenchman. Fab says that C...
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Chelsea’s next sale is painfully obvious after Tyrique George joins Everton
5Jul By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Analysis

Chelsea’s next sale is painfully obvious after Tyrique George joins Everton

Chelsea have made a significant sale in the summer transfer window, as BBC Sport's Nizaar Kinsella reports that the Blues have agreed to sell Tyrique George to Everton for a cool 25 million pounds. For many Chelsea fans, the George sale is unsurprising, as the club never seemed to believe in the 20 year old prospect, with many fans worried that the sale will come back to bite them. But the real annoyance is that George is the one to go before Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Alejandro Garnacho after those two players were much, much worse than George in the attack following their big money transfers. Chelsea should probably be buying in on their own prospects before splurging on questionable talents, but since they are giving up on George, the only question is, who will go next? If Chel...
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Fabrizio Romano affirmed the harsh Granit Xhaka truth for Xabi Alonso
4Jul By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Fabrizio Romano affirmed the harsh Granit Xhaka truth for Xabi Alonso

Chelsea's new manager Xabi Alonso is doing his best to hold onto Enzo Fernandez, and with Real Madrid dropping off the radar and Manchester City not actively in talks, he stands a great chance at keeping the World Cup hero in his team. The Blues, meanwhile, are pushing to add another big star to the midfield in Granit Xhaka, the former Arsenal captain and star for Sunderalnd last season, as he played a huge role in keeping the Black Cats in the Premier League. Unfortunately, Fabrizio Romano is reporting that despite the Blues continued interest in Xhaka, Sunderland are refusing to open the door for Alonso to reunite with the leader who helped him achieve a historic undefeated Bundesliga season in 2023/24. Romano says that Sunderland do not want to sell Granit Xhaka at any price. F...
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Declan Rice said what Arsenal are terrified to confess about Elliot Anderson
4Jul By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Declan Rice said what Arsenal are terrified to confess about Elliot Anderson

Manchester City made one of the biggest signings of the summer 2026 transfer window so far, splurging well over 100 million pounds to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest after he was the biggest breakout No. 8 of the 2025/26 Premier League season. Meanwhile, Arsenal are still in the hunt for a blockbuster midfielder of their own. For some reason, they did not prioritize Anderson, possibly because manager Mikel Arteta did not like his fit in his scheme, but after missing out on Sandro Tonali, the Gunners are going all in for his Newcastle United teammate Bruno Guimaraes. It sounds like Arsenal's only set starter in the midfield, Ballon d'Or candidate Declan Rice, is a huge fan of Elliot Anderson's, and maybe he feels like the Gunners missed out on his England national teammate...
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Morgan Rogers said something Arsenal fans never expected about his transfer
4Jul By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Morgan Rogers said something Arsenal fans never expected about his transfer

Aston Villa left winger and attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers has been one of the most productive players in the Premier League ever since breaking out a couple of seasons ago, and virtually every Big Six club has taken a look at him. Although Arsenal won the Premier League to get the monkey off their back in 2025/26, the Gunners still need to do more to make sure they stay on top over Manchester City and win the Champions League, too, after heartbreak in penalties against PSG. Rogers is squarely on Arsenal's transfer radar as a big time upgrade on the left wing, and while Aston Villa are holding out a king's ransom for their most valuable player, Rogers himself does not think he should go for that match. The England international said of being valued at an insane 130 million pou...
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Bukayo Saka could flip the recent narrative with one big game
4Jul By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Analysis

Bukayo Saka could flip the recent narrative with one big game

England will face one of the host nations, Mexico, on Sunday night in the World Cup Round of 16, and while the Three Lions always like to think of themselves as one of the favorites and have been Finalists in the last two European Championships, they know there is a reason why they have not won the big one in decades. Although Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have stepped up massively in this World Cup with clutch goals and all around performances, there are so many other players, including champions of the Premier League, who have not stepped up at all or shown that same winning DNA. Bukayo Saka is fresh off hoisting the Premier League title to break Arsenal's drought, but their star right winger has been having a down year even for the Gunners and continues to be shocking for England...
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Fabrizio Romano made Chelsea’s stance on Granit Xhaka crystal clear
4Jul By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Fabrizio Romano made Chelsea’s stance on Granit Xhaka crystal clear

Chelsea are faced with the prospect of losing star defensive midfielder Enzo Fernandez, but, so far, the Argentinian international looks more likely to stay with Real Madrid balking at the asking price. And in the meantime, the Blues are working on adding another big name in former Arsenal player Granit Xhaka, who is very interested in rejoining Xabi Alonso. He was Alonso's deputy on the field as captain during Bayer Leverkusen's fairytale undefeated 2023/24 season. Sunderland have been blocking the deal because of how important Xhaka was to their survival last season, but Fabrizio Romano is reporting that Chelsea are not giving up on this deal getting done. Fab says that while Sunderland are telling Chelsea that a deal is over, the Blues are making it clear that they are still go...
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Portugal still can’t escape the Bruno Fernandes dilemma
3Jul By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Analysis

Portugal still can’t escape the Bruno Fernandes dilemma

Manchester United attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes was arguably the best player of the 2025/26 Premier League season and played a crucial role in leading Michael Carrick's side back to the Champions League as one of European football's biggest chance creation mavens. But under Roberto Martinez for the Portuguese national team at the 2026 World Cup, Fernandes can come nowhere near recapturing that magic, and he proved to be a tremendous liability yet again. Fernandes was frustratingly ghosting all game long again, and while Portugal were able to pull off a last gasp 2-1 win over Luka Modric and Croatia in the end, they were very nearly taken out of the game. While Fernandes is far from the only disappointing midfielder for Portugal, it has been truly jarring to see how few chan...
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