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.

The 10 players who could leave Manchester United this summer
14Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

The 10 players who could leave Manchester United this summer

Manchester United are on the right track now with Michael Carrick at the helm, fighting for the Champions League places, and if they can offload unwanted first team players who are underperforming and cash in on a variety of loanees with no future at the club, they could be in business with more big signings this summer. According to information from ESPN FC, a total of 10 players could be leaving Manchester United this summer. Rasmus Hojlund is almost certain to stay with Napoli permanently after a successful loan spell, and the same can be said for Marcus Rashford at Barcelona. So that rules out two right off the bat. Goalkeepers Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir were horrendous for Manchester United and are obvious exit candidates, likely to the Turkish Super Lig. Joshua Zirkzee, Mas...
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Liverpool fans get the Alexander Isak injury news they were begging for
14Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Liverpool fans get the Alexander Isak injury news they were begging for

The Alexander Isak transfer has not worked out the way Liverpool had hoped, as the club spent more than 100 million pounds on the striker who was the Premier League's best in 2024/25, only to have him unable to integrate into the team due to injuries. But now, according to Paul Joyce of the Sunday Times, there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel. Isak is said to be nearing the end of recovering from a fractured fibula and ankle injury, and he should be able to return to Liverpool until after the March international break. Now, Isak has missed months with a serious injury, so it will take him some time to find his groove even after he returns. Liverpool are not going to be in the Premier League title picture even if Isak is 100 percent and firing on all cylinders, but, impo...
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Arsenal leading Barcelona in race for dream striker transfer target
14Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Arsenal leading Barcelona in race for dream striker transfer target

Arsenal signed Viktor Gyokeres for big money in the summer, but they are still after another potential striker with a more all around style to replace Gabriel Jesus, who has declined badly. Enter Julian Alvarez. According to a new report from Spanish newspaper Diario Sport, Arsenal, not Barcelona, are now the frontrunners to sign Alvarez from Atletico Madrid. Los Rojiblancos's best player, Alvarez has been high on Barca's list for a while, and the former Manchester City man is the Blaugrana's dream target to replace Robert Lewandowski at striker alongside his former Man City teammate Erling Haaland. While Haaland is certainly not on the move this summer, Alvarez's status is more uncertain. Though his reps and the club will deny anything is brewing, perhaps the right offer can coax...
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Real Madrid set to bring another youth player to the first team vs. Elche
13Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Real Madrid set to bring another youth player to the first team vs. Elche

Real Madrid will face Elche in La Liga on Saturday night after dismantling Champions League rivals Manchester City 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu, so this game could be the right time for stars to be rested and even for unknowns to get a chance. Manager Alvaro Arbeloa has been willing to give the youth players their turn, with Thiago Pitarch already becoming a standout in the starting lineup while another young midfielder, Miguel Angel, is making his mark in the rotation. Per a report from MARCA, Arbeloa is now ready to call up another youth player to the squad for the Elche game in Daniel Yanez, who has been a star for the Real Madrid Castilla side in the UEFA Youth Cup, recently scoring a winning goal vs. Chelsea. The 18 year old right winger made his debut with the first team las...
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Alvaro Arbeloa offers major Kylian Mbappe injury update
13Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Analysis

Alvaro Arbeloa offers major Kylian Mbappe injury update

Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe has missed the last few games with a left knee injury that he was previously playing through, but the Merengues had to stop trotting him out there due to the risk of aggravation. Mbappe is feeling better now, so Real are evaluating when he can return. Ahead of Saturday's game against Elche, which Mbappe obviously will not be playing, Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa addressed the Mbappe injury situation. He told reporters, via Fabrizio Romano, “Mbappé is getting better every day. The mission is to have him available for Man City game. He will not play tomorrow. On Sunday, we will decide about Man City”. Real Madrid face Manchester City on Tuesday, March 17, in the Champions League second leg with a 3-0 advantage after Fede Valverde cooked Marc Gueh...
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Barcelona set to rest 3 key players vs. Sevilla
13Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Barcelona set to rest 3 key players vs. Sevilla

Barcelona defeated Athletic Club and Villarreal in their last two La Liga matchups, but they are coming off a disappointing 1-1 draw against Newcastle United. This weekend, Barca will return to La Liga action to take on Sevilla, who love to steal points off the Big 3 in Spain. Per a report from Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are looking to make rotations and rest key players for this game with the Champions League's crucial second leg on the horizon. Striker Robert Lewandowski, star winger Raphinha, and center midfielder Marc Bernal are three vital players the Blaugrana are looking to rotate. While fans are hoping for additional rest for Lamine Yamal and Pedri, though it is possible Barca do not want to underestimate Sevilla with the title race with Real Madrid still on despite the Blaug...
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Bayern Munich just handed Liverpool and Manchester United a major transfer boost
13Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Bayern Munich just handed Liverpool and Manchester United a major transfer boost

RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande has been one of the stories of the season in the Bundesliga, scoring goals and ripping defenders apart in one on ones, and Manchester United and Liverpool are just two of the big clubs outside of Germany who have shown tremendous interest in the breakout left winger. Bayern Munich, though, are always the favorites to sign top young Bundesliga talents, but the good news for Liverpool and Man United is that while Die Roten seemed highly interested in the Ivorian star at one point, they appear to have fallen out of the race. BILD reporter Christian Falk says that Manchester United and Liverpool are now aware of Diomande's increased availability, as Bayern Munich are ruling out the signing of the 19 year old gem. Bayern do like Diomande, but because they a...
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Real Madrid suffer brutal defensive injury blow for Atletico Madrid, Manchester City fixtures
13Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Real Madrid suffer brutal defensive injury blow for Atletico Madrid, Manchester City fixtures

Just as soon as he came into the team again and shone brightly against Manchester City in the Champions League knockouts, Ferland Mendy had suffered a right hamstring injury. Mendy was always going to miss the upcoming fixture against Elche in La Liga this weekend, but now, according to a report from Diario AS, he is going to miss more significant games after that. He is now expected to be out until after the March international break, meaning the earliest he would return is on April 5 against Mallorca. His injury will cost him the massive fixtures against rivals Atletico Madrid and then Manchester City in the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16. With Alvaro Carreras injured with a calf issue, Real Madrid will have to turn to Fran Garcia for the Atleti game, and he is a...
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Liam Rosenior offers brutal Estevao Willian injury news
13Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Liam Rosenior offers brutal Estevao Willian injury news

It has been a rough week for Chelsea fans. The club lost to rivals Arsenal the previous weekend, barely survived Wrexham last weekend, and then got pummeled 5-2 by PSG with Filip Jorgensen floundering in goal after manager Liam Rosenior boldly made the call to start him over the significantly better Robert Sanchez. On Saturday, Chelsea will have a tough battle in the Premier League again with Newcastle United on the ledger, and while there was some hope that star winger Estevao Willian would be back to help Joao Pedro out in the attack, it looks like the Brazilian sensation will be out a bit longer. Rosenior told reporters at the press conference before the game against the Magpies, “Estevao is still out and a bit further away." It is unclear when Estevao will return, but now Chel...
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Barcelona are putting disappointing defender on the transfer market
13Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Barcelona are putting disappointing defender on the transfer market

Barcelona left back Alejandro Balde looked like he was going to be the best player in the world in his position when he broke out for Xavi during the 2022/23 campaign in which a suddenly elite Blaugrana defense led them to the title over 2021/22 double winners Real Madrid. But Balde's play has seriously regressed in recent seasons, dropping to its lowest point this year. He is even getting benched by veteran Joao Cancelo from the Saudi Pro League, as his attacking development has been non existent. Now, MARCA's Matteo Moretto is reporting that Barcelona sporting director Deco no longer considers Balde unsellable. In fact, he is going to be considering selling the 22 year old left back, as Barca are now willing to listen offers from other clubs for the U23 talent. Balde is still yo...
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