Author: Joe Soriano

Joe Soriano covers West Ham for Green Street Hammers and writes about Real Madrid for The Real Champs. He has extensive experience covering world football since 2014. Joe is an editor for The Trivela Effect, where he covers the biggest clubs in European football. He has watched professional sports regularly since 2002 and can be found playing the same sports he covers with his friends.
Dani Olmo injury update for Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid
28Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Dani Olmo injury update for Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid

New Barcelona star Dani Olmo came to Catalunya with injury concerns, and he has already missed 13 games in the 2024/25 LaLiga season with various soft-tissue ailments. Although he scored in Barca's impressive 3-0, revenge-minded win over Osasuna on Thursday night in LaLiga, Olmo left before 30 minutes were completed with another injury. According to a report from Mundo Deportivo, via barcentre, Olmo will not be able to play in Barca's upcoming game on Apr. 2 against Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals. Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are tied 4-4 on aggregate after a fiery first leg, so Olmo's absence as a potential goal-scorer from midfield could loom large next week if more fireworks take place between the two LaLiga title contenders. Of course, Bar...
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Xabi Alonso recruiting star midfielder to Real Madrid besides Florian Wirtz?
28Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Xabi Alonso recruiting star midfielder to Real Madrid besides Florian Wirtz?

Real Madrid are expected to finally make a change at the manager post this summer, swapping the legendary Carlo Ancelotti for Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso, who earned widespread acclaim for an undefeated season in 2023/24. In 2024/25, Alonso has recovered from a slow start to help Leverkusen push Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga title once more, only enhancing his reputation as the best young manager in world football even further. The best possible get to replace Ancelotti, the reigning winner of the Champions League, Alonso's time could be now, and he is apparently already eyeing some big moves for Real Madrid in the summer 2025 transfer window if president Florentino Perez gives him the job. According to Fabrizio Romano, via Madrid Xtra, the big reason for the sudden ru...
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Real Madrid are beating Arsenal in Martin Zubimendi transfer battle
27Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Real Madrid are beating Arsenal in Martin Zubimendi transfer battle

For more than a year now, Real Sociedad star defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi has been the hottest name at the position, wanted by clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, and even LaLiga top-four rivals Barcelona on the transfer market. But now, the other giants of LaLiga have joined in with serious interest in Zubimendi, as Real Madrid have taken stock of their club's issues in the post-Toni Kroos landscape and correctly view a lack of control as one of their biggest weaknesses. Without Kroos, Real Madrid have not had control in most of their meaningful matches, which have featured disappointing results to the likes of Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, and Liverpool this season. Well, Real Madrid see Zubimendi as the best available deep-lying midfielder with controlling capabilities, and t...
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Real Madrid think Trent Alexander-Arnold will be the best in the world
27Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Real Madrid think Trent Alexander-Arnold will be the best in the world

The transfer rumors linking Liverpools star right back Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid are so persistent and fierce that, as with Kylian Mbappe's free transfer from PSG to Madrid last summer, it feels like a foregone conclusion that the England international will end up at the Santiago Bernabeu. Fellow English superstar Jude Bellingham's hard work to recruit Alexander-Arnold to Madrid appears to be paying off, and Florentino Perez's desire to sign the world's best players in their primes on free transfers is about to get another big feather in the proverbial cap. There's a lot of optimism regarding the Alexander-Arnold deal's completion at the Valdebebas, and that optimism extends to how Real Madrid feel TAA can help the team in 2025 and beyond. According to Fabrizio Romano,...
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Real Madrid will try to sign Dean Huijsen sooner than expected
27Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Real Madrid will try to sign Dean Huijsen sooner than expected

Real Madrid are the latest elite club in European football to be smitten with Bournemouth breakout star Dean Huijsen, who has emerged as arguably the best young center back in the world - and one of the other players in the argument is already in Madrid, Raul Asencio. Huijsen has been one of the top center backs in the Premier League, dribbled past just 0.3 times per game with nearly three combined tackles and interceptions per matchup. Real Madrid are increasingly interested in signing the 19-year-old Spanish defender, and they are prepared to make a play for the Bournemouth star sooner than even they expected. According to a report from Madrid-based paper Diario AS, via Madrid Xtra, Real Madrid have now decided to go after Huijsen in the summer 2025 transfer window as opposed to...
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Three top Premier League clubs want to sign Kenan Yildiz from Juventus
27Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Three top Premier League clubs want to sign Kenan Yildiz from Juventus

Juventus star Kenan Yildiz is one of the only reasons for hope for the future in Turin, as the Bianconeri have fallen out of the Serie A title race and are faced with another stopgap manager after giving up on Thiago Motta before one full year. Despite the optimism around Yildiz, Juve have had trouble getting the Turkish international consistently involved in year two, as he's been out of his preferred position as a No. 10 in a playmaker role. Without a true left winger - Federico Chiesa was loaned to Liverpool last summer - Yildiz has made frequent starts on the left wing, and that's clearly not the best spot for him. So top clubs around Europe are circling like vultures, looking to take advantage of the potential that Juventus make yet another transfer blunder with a promising y...
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Liverpool are already looking for Trent Alexander-Arnold replacements
27Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Liverpool are already looking for Trent Alexander-Arnold replacements

As Real Madrid push harder to sign their dream right back transfer target, Trent Alexander-Arnold, his current club Liverpool seem increasingly resigned to the fact that their generational talent will be leaving for free this summer. Real Madrid have been even more interested in Alexander-Arnold, a long-time top target of president Florentino Perez's, after veteran right back Dani Carvajal's early season-ending ACL tear. Now, Alexander-Arnold is poised to become the successor to Carvajal just as he hits his prime years and Carva finally enters the twilight of a legitimately GOATed career at the right back position. According to a report from Sky Sports Germany, via Madrid Xtra, Alexander-Arnold's future seems to be so removed from Anfield and so close to the Santiago Bernabeu that...
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Real Madrid began talks to hire Xabi Alonso from Bayer Leverkusen
27Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Real Madrid began talks to hire Xabi Alonso from Bayer Leverkusen

Real Madrid have been interested in hiring Xabi Alonso ever since Bayer Leverkusen began their fairytale run as undefeated Bundesliga champions, as the former Bayern Munich and Madrid star midfielder finally brought major silverware to Die Werkself. After a slow start to the 2024/25 season, Leverkusen are back in title contention with rivals Bayern Munich, and Alonso's reputation as the best young manager in the world - or even the best manager of any age - remains solidly intact. Meanwhile, Real Madrid are eyeing a transition away from Carlo Ancelotti, who saved his job with a third Champions League trophy in Madrid last season but has continued to frustrate tactically in big games this season, getting wiped off the pitch by new Barcelona head man Hansi Flick. And with the Brazil...
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Aston Villa want to sign Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma
27Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Aston Villa want to sign Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma

Aston Villa signed Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans to boost their midfield this past summer, and while both Belgian internationals started the 2024/25 Premier League season hot, their signings have to be viewed with mixed results right now. The Clarets are still struggling to control games, as Aston Villa have fallen outside the top four and are at serious risk of missing out on Champions League football. And since they are all the way down in ninth placed, Aston Villa have to be worried about missing out on European football entirely next season despite very active summer and winter transfer windows. So they won't be done making tweaks in 2025, and GiveMeSport reports that Aston Villa are interested in signing Tottenham center midfielder Yves Bissouma this summer. Bissouma sh...
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Manchester United make new GK a transfer priority in summer 2025
27Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Manchester United make new GK a transfer priority in summer 2025

Manchester United will have a lot of work to do in the coming summer 2025 transfer window, as they are toiling away in the bottom half of the Premier League with little improvement to show for despite hiring one of the most highly-regarded young managers in world football in Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese coach still needs better players at pretty much every level of the squad, and while most transfer rumblings have remained focused on a new striker, Manchester United seem to be after goalkeeper help. According to a report from the Muppetiers, via mufcmpb, Manchester United are now pivoting towards making signing a new goalkeeper one of their priorities in the summer 2025 transfer window, especially as an Andre Onana exit is becoming more likely. Andre Onana is prone to errors While ...
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