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.

Arne Slot is about to make the Rio Ngumoha decision Liverpool fans are begging for
27Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Arne Slot is about to make the Rio Ngumoha decision Liverpool fans are begging for

Liverpool teenage sensation Rio Ngumoha is having some game-changing performances off the bench this season, and now manager Arne Slot is having difficulty denying the 17-year-old from having his day. Per a report from Paul Joyce of the Sunday Times, via Anfield Sector, Slot is planning to give Ngumoha more opportunities to shine going forward and thinks his special one-on-one qualities and explosiveness will ensure the Reds end the 2025/26 Premier League season strong. Despite spending big on Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and still others, the reigning Premier League champions in Slot's first season as manager have taken a big step backwards in 2025/26 and are only just recently back on the verge of the Champions League qualification places. Mohamed Salah's decline...
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Michael Carrick has a surprising opinion of Manuel Ugarte
27Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Michael Carrick has a surprising opinion of Manuel Ugarte

Manchester United spent a whopping 60 million euros on Manuel Ugarte in the summer 2024 transfer window after he shone for both Benfica and PSG, but he has been such a disaster at Old Trafford that fans view him as the club's worst player. Even new manager Michael Carrick, a former deep-lying Man United midfielder himself, has stopped starting Ugarte at all, but his public comments on the Uruguayan man seem to stand in stark contrast to that. Ahead of Sunday's big home game against Crystal Palace, Carrick spoke extensively about Ugarte at the press conference and gave the 24-year-old a great deal of praise. Carrick said, “I like Manu a lot. He's been terrific around the group. I'm hugely impressed with his attitude and how he goes about it and his training qualities. He's got a lo...
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Inter Milan eyeing 3 big names in midfield to transform their squad
27Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Inter Milan eyeing 3 big names in midfield to transform their squad

After losing to Bodo Glimt in the Champions League, Inter Milan know they have a lot of work to do if they want to be Champions League winners again, and they have designs on transforming their squad into a younger, more explosive version - and that starts with rebuilding the midfield. New manager Christian Chivu, a former Inter midfielder himself, has done a wonderful job of taking over from former top manager Simone Inzaghi, and Tuttosport reports that for the 2026/27 season, he is eyeing changing the formation to a 3-4-2-1. To facilitate that transition, he wants to sign his guys in midfield. And he is looking at three dynamic box-to-box options in coveted Atalanta star Ederson, reclamation project Leon Goretzka of Bayern Munich fame in free agency, and another underrated Serie A ...
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Real Madrid’s No. 1 midfield transfer target could cost just 50M
27Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Real Madrid’s No. 1 midfield transfer target could cost just 50M

Real Madrid need to sign one more world-class midfielder, as their quality has dipped badly following the losses of legends Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. Vinicius Junior's old Ballon d'Or foe Rodri of Manchester City is their dream option right now. According to a report from Ramon Alvarez de Mon of Radio MARCA, Rodri is the player Real want in the middle of the park, and a deal for the Manchester City superstar could cost just 50 million euros. A fee that low for a Ballon d'Or winner in the defensive midfield seems almost unbelievable, but it makes sense when you look at the fact that Rodri had an ACL tear just two seasons ago, leading to a noticeable dip in athleticism and output. Plus, Rodri is about to be 30 years old this summer when June strikes, so he has limited future resal...
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Liverpool will have another Curtis Jones transfer worry this summer
27Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Liverpool will have another Curtis Jones transfer worry this summer

Liverpool center midfielder Curtis Jones is one of the most in-demand box-to-box midfielders in European football in 2026, and it sounds like Inter Milan are going to go even harder after him this summer. According to a report from Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, since Jones will be in the final year of his contract this summer window, Inter could come back for him due to the potential to sign him for less as a result of the contract situation. Inter Milan manager Christian Chivu is said to be smitten with the England international, and he would reportedly likely be a fan of the Nerazzurri going back after a player whom he fell for when watching him close and personal when the two European powerhouses clashed head-to-head in the Champions League. Under Chivu, a former Inte...
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Chelsea are already considering selling one of their new stars
27Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Chelsea are already considering selling one of their new stars

Chelsea surprised everyone when they pushed hard to sign former Manchester United top prospect Alejandro Garnacho, but he's been just as frustrating at Stamford Bridge as he was at Old Trafford last season. Per a report from Football.London, Chelsea are already so underwhelmed by Garnacho's performances this season that they are contemplating selling him in the summer 2026 transfer window if his displays do not improve before the 2025/26 Premier League season ends. In 16 league appearances this season, Garnacho, despite being a regular starter on the left wing, has just one goal with three assists. He is averaging 1.1 key passes and 1.0 fouls drawn per game. Those are decent numbers in terms of his creativity and one-on-one output, but they are honestly below average for a startin...
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Roma get the Paulo Dybala injury news they needed vs. Juventus
27Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Roma get the Paulo Dybala injury news they needed vs. Juventus

Matches between Serie A powerhouses Juventus and Roma are always a big deal, but they mean even more nowadays because of the history between current Roma superstar Paulo Dybala and the Bianconeri, as well as the fact that both clubs are competing evenly for European spots. The Argentinian "jewel" Dybala has been held back by injuries a bit in the 2025/26 season again, and after recovering from hamstring issues, he has most recently missed a handful of matches with knee problems. Angelo Mangiante of Sky Sport Italia now reports that Dybala was able to test OK on Friday, practicing with his Roma teammates and has the green light to play against the Bianconeri on Sunday in the biggest Serie A matchup of the weekend. Meanwhile, the other left-footed star right winger/playmaker at Roma...
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Juventus just lost out on their dream goalkeeper transfer target
27Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Juventus just lost out on their dream goalkeeper transfer target

Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio has been a major disappointment this season, but Atalanta star Marco Carnesecchi may no longer be an option to usurp him as a starter in 2026/27. Carnesecchi has been one of the elite goalkeepers in Serie A these last couple of seasons, and the young shot-stopper is coveted by all the elite clubs in European football with at least some interest in a keeper, including Arsenal. But now, according to transfer insider Matteo Moretto, Carnesecchi is set to sign a contract extension with Atalanta. His contract was set to expire in the 2027/28 season, which put some pressure on Atalanta to potentially sell this summer. Now, though, a new deal means Carnesecchi is locked in for the future in Bergamo, with Atalanta now pushing again for Champions Lea...
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Inter Milan ambitiously want to upgrade team with two of Spanish football’s future superstars
27Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Inter Milan ambitiously want to upgrade team with two of Spanish football’s future superstars

Inter Milan are by far the best team in Serie A this season, but after getting humbled by Bodo Glimt in the Champions League after last year's debacle vs. PSG in the Final, the Nerazzurri want to add more star power - and they are already eyeing Nico Paz and Nico Williams for summer 2026. According to Italian outlet Tuttosport, Inter want a major summer overhaul this coming market. They want to be more physical and athletic with high intensity, quick players to bring in a new phase of football, and they may even switch to a 3-4-2-1 formation as they look to back Christian Chivu to the fullest. Nico Paz would be the dream signing to end all dream signings, but he would be almost impossible to sign. Real Madrid are guaranteed to buy him back for just a few million euros from Como, as P...
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Atletico Madrid provide surprising Antoine Griezmann transfer twist
27Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Atletico Madrid provide surprising Antoine Griezmann transfer twist

Orlando City have been in hot pursuit of Atletico Madrid legend Antoine Griezmann as the next superstar signing to MLS, but it looks like Los Rojiblancos are not ready to let the Frenchman go in 2026. In an appearance on Radio Marca, top La Liga transfer insider Matteo Moretto revealed that Atletico manager Diego Simeone and the entire club's structure itself do not want Griezmann to leave for MLS this summer. Atleti still feel that they need Griezmann in their team for his leadership and attacking quality. Moretto believes that while it all depends on Griezmann, his own opinion as a transfer expert is that the veteran forward may be convinced to stay at the club because of the factors at play within the walls who are pointing towards him staying. Per Moretto, Griezmann's future i...
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