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.

‘Prepared to advance’ – Transfer insider hands Arsenal great news in pursuit of dream CM target
26Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

‘Prepared to advance’ – Transfer insider hands Arsenal great news in pursuit of dream CM target

Arsenal went out and signed Martin Zubimendi this past summer transfer window to form a ridiculously great pairing with Ballon d'Or candidate Declan Rice at the base of the midfield, but they still want one more world-class deep-lying center midfielder in Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali. So far, there is no clear indication that Tonali wants to leave the Magpies, but the door is slightly ajar. And in an appearance on The United Stand, Ben Jacobs is reporting that Arsenal are "prepared to advance and explore a deal seriously" if the Italian international is indeed ready to leave St. James's Park. Per Jacobs, Manchester United are among the clubs that have shown interest in pursuing Tonali, who has been linked with Serie A giants Juventus again and is interested in a return to Ital...
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Bayern Munich have fully decided who will replace Manuel Neuer
26Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Bayern Munich have fully decided who will replace Manuel Neuer

Bayern Munich legendary goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is weighing up whether or not he will retire at the end of the 2025/26 Bundesliga and Champions League seasons, and if he does, Die Roten are going to forge ahead with Jonas Urbig as his successor. Per a report from Sport Bild, via iMiaSanMia, Bayern have no interest in signing another goalkeeper to compete with Urbig as the No. 1, should Neuer retire. The No. 2 could be Daniel Peretz or Alexander Nubel, or it could even be someone else, depending on how the summer window plays out. For years, Bayern have contemplated replacing Neuer, even first tabbing former Schalke captain Nubel as his replacement. But Neuer has never relinquished the job, and even as he has shown decline, that's only from being the world's best to simply being good....
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Vinicius Junior humbled Jose Mourinho further with an embarrassing new record
26Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Vinicius Junior humbled Jose Mourinho further with an embarrassing new record

Real Madrid fans will always love Jose Mourinho for how he led their club as manager in the early 2010s, but after his disgraceful comments minimizing racism, it felt good to watch Vinicius Junior sink him. Vinicius Jr. scored a brilliant opening goal that was shrouded by controversy afterwards in the first leg, and then he sealed the tie in the second leg with another goal on the break, meaning that he scored in both ties against Benfica. According to Madrid Xtra, that's actually a record. In addition to all the other history Vinicius Junior and Real Madrid made at Jose Mourinho's expense, Vini Jr. is the first player to ever score in both ties against a Mourinho-led side. Mourinho is a manager famously known for his hard-nosed defenses and stability, going back to his days at Po...
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Manchester United may need to cross underrated gem midfielder off transfer wishlist
26Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Manchester United may need to cross underrated gem midfielder off transfer wishlist

Manchester United fans hoping to steal away Angelo Stiller from Stuttgart this summer transfer window may need to look elsewhere for an underrated gem transfer target from outside the Premier League. In an appearance on The United Stand, Ben Jacobs told Mark Goldbridge that Manchester United going after Stiller is unlikely at this stage, and he noted that the Red Devils are waiting to see if Stuttgart pay the meager two million euros to get the former Bayern Munich prospect's release clause nullified: "I don't get the impression at this stage that Manchester United are advancing on Angelo Stiller." "They're waiting to see whether Stuttgart remove the release clause and Stuttgart have the ability to pay €2 millon and get rid of the release clause." Stiller has a 40 million euro rel...
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Real Madrid get excellent Dean Huijsen injury news
26Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Real Madrid get excellent Dean Huijsen injury news

Real Madrid star center back Dean Huijsen has been a vast upgrade for the team in the 2025/26 season, and while they did miss him in the second leg of the Champions League vs. Benfica, the Spanish international is set to return in time for the Round of 16 against either Sporting CP or Manchester City. According to a report from COPE, Huijsen will be fully ready for the Round of 16. In fact, they state that the star central defender will be able to make his return in La Liga on Mar. 7 against a dangerous Celta Vigo side, though he will miss the next game on Monday vs. the hard-nosed Getafe. Real Madrid can survive without Huijsen vs. Getafe, but the more attacking men from Vigo is a great spot for his return. And most importantly, Real Madrid won't be without him in the Champions Leag...
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Manchester United’s latest manager link is a clear downgrade on Michael Carrick
26Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Manchester United’s latest manager link is a clear downgrade on Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick has done wonders as Manchester United's interim manager, totally changing the results and culture at the club, so it is a surprise to hear Ben Jacobs tell The United Stand that the Red Devils are eyeing Portugal national team manager Roberto Martinez. Manchester United were employing two of the worst managers in world football in Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim. The former got fired in mere days at his next job with Bayer Leverkusen, while Amorim's incompetence is best displayed by how much better Man United got when they brought in Carrick instead. A former Manchester United center midfielder himself, Carrick has done so well that many fans would like him to stay on permanently, and when you look at people like Martinez being linked to an Old Trafford move, you have to...
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Barcelona get brutal injury news on world-class midfielder
26Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Barcelona get brutal injury news on world-class midfielder

Barcelona star center midfielder Frenkie de Jong has gone down injured yet again, and the club officially announced that he will miss five to six weeks with a distal biceps femoris injury in his right hamstring after sustaining an injury on the Feb. 26 morning training session. De Jong is part of a deep and talented Barcelona midfield, but he is still a crucial player to the Blaugrana, especially in terms of keeping the ball and maintaining control in the biggest of games. The Dutchman has started 16 matches this season for Barca, averaging 2.1 tackles per game compared to a meager 0.5 dribbles completed allowed. He is also averaging 1.6 key passes and 1.3 fouls drawn per game with a pass completion percentage close to 95 percent. De Jong does it all for Barcelona, and they are go...
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Real Madrid fans get the only Kylian Mbappe injury news they needed to hear
26Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Real Madrid fans get the only Kylian Mbappe injury news they needed to hear

Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe is dealing with a tricky knee injury that has caused the club to shut him down as a precaution, but COPE reports the relieving news that the center forward will be able to play in the Champions League Round of 16 next month. In total, COPE report that Mbappe is going to miss the next 10-14 days. As everyone fully expected, Mbappe will miss, in addition to the previous second leg battle against Benfica in the Champions League, the upcoming La Liga fixture on Monday against Getafe. That's all for the better, as Real's local rivals, coached by the notorious Jose Bordalas, are not exactly a friendly opponent for an injured superstar attacker, given their foul nature of defending. The 10-14 day timeline means that Mbappe is also scheduled to miss the...
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West Ham blame Graham Potter for missing out on obvious signing
26Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

West Ham blame Graham Potter for missing out on obvious signing

West Ham were able to bring in Pablo and Taty Castellanos for a combined 50 million euros this winter transfer window, but the club is still upset that Graham Potter didn't let them sign a striker sooner, specifically Leeds United star Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The most senior spokesperson to West Ham United's owners told Hammers.News, "We regret not signing Calvert-Lewin, especially on a free transfer. Mr Potter didn’t want a forward and would not let us sign one. Nuno came in and identified he wanted two and it has helped massively." The Hammers are still very much in the relegation battle right now, but they have shown signs of life with new strikers. Callum Wilson did join in the summer and has scored five goals, but Castellanos is the real star after a good tenure in Serie A with L...
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Real Madrid will miss 3 important players for next Champions League game
26Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Real Madrid will miss 3 important players for next Champions League game

Real Madrid managed to survive an upset bid from Benfica with two narrow victories in the playoff round, but their next Champions League Round of 16 tie will be even tougher with Eder Militao, Jude Bellingham, and Dani Ceballos all still out injured, per COPE. Much of the conversation heading into the second leg against Benfica centered around Kylian Mbappe, though the superstar forward isn't the most at risk player of missing the Round of 16. Real Madrid are shutting the Frenchman down due to a recurring knee issue, meanwhile, their bigger concerns heading into either a Round of 16 tilt with Sporting CP or new European Clasico rivals Manchester City will be the defense. Militao and Huijsen are the two main starters for Real at center back, and there is a clear drop off after them...
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