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.

Michael Carrick quietly has some great Mason Mount injury news
Injury News

Michael Carrick quietly has some great Mason Mount injury news

Manchester United veteran center midfielder has had an awful time at Old Trafford because he just can't stay on the pitch, and the former Chelsea man has most recently been out since the end of January with another knock, missing three games in total. But Mount has missed less time with injury this season than in any of his previous seasons since his big money transfer from Stamford Bridge, and now Man United manager Michael Carrick says that the England international is close to a return. Carrick told reporters at the press conference before the Crystal Palace game, via mufcmpb, “Mason is getting closer really. He’s on the grass and getting closer, looking at being around training soon. [We’ve] just had to be patient and he’s a good player, so we’re making sure he’s ready. The good ...
Inter Milan could try to steal one of Liverpool’s biggest gems
Transfer News

Inter Milan could try to steal one of Liverpool’s biggest gems

In addition to center midfielder Curtis Jones, Liverpool's young breakout center back Giovanni Leoni is another talented player Inter Milan are eyeing as a possible summer 2026 transfer target. According to a report from Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, the Nerazzurri are not ruling out a move for the young Italian this summer, as they remain interested in the former Parma phenom despite an awful injury this season. Leoni was dazzling for Liverpool in central defense at a time when veteran Ibrahima Konate was struggling in a contract year, but he tragically suffered a torn ACL in his debut against Southampton in the League Cup. Liverpool fans are high on Leoni, and the club undoubtedly is, too. They signed the 19-year-old for a hefty 26 million pounds this past summer at a tim...
Michael Carrick offers concrete Patrick Dorgu, Lisandro Martinez injury updates
Injury News

Michael Carrick offers concrete Patrick Dorgu, Lisandro Martinez injury updates

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has gotten the best out of Patrick Dorgu and is ready to do the same for Lisandro Martinez. He will get to work with Martinez in just a few days, though he did state that Dorgu's injury will take longer. On Sunday, Man United will face a dangerous Crystal Palace side at Old Trafford, and at the press conference before the game, the Man United head coach somewhat left the door open for Martinez to be a part of the proceedings. Carrick said of the injuries to Dorgu and Martinez, via utdreport, “Patrick [Dorgu], we're still talking weeks, but he's progressing well. Licha [Lisandro Martinez] is much closer to a return than Patrick. It will only be a matter of days. We'll see in the coming days.” Licha has recovered well from his torn ACL to be...
Arne Slot is about to make the Rio Ngumoha decision Liverpool fans are begging for
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...
Michael Carrick has a surprising opinion of Manuel Ugarte
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...
Inter Milan eyeing 3 big names in midfield to transform their squad
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 ...
Real Madrid’s No. 1 midfield transfer target could cost just 50M
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...
Liverpool will have another Curtis Jones transfer worry this summer
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...
Chelsea are already considering selling one of their new stars
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...
Roma get the Paulo Dybala injury news they needed vs. Juventus
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...