Author: Joe Soriano

The uncomfortable truth about Real Madrid signing Aymeric Laporte
10Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

The uncomfortable truth about Real Madrid signing Aymeric Laporte

Real Madrid are in dire need of center back help this winter, as Eder Militao has suffered a torn ACL yet again, leaving only Antonio Rudiger as an experienced option in central defense. Raul Asencio looked good in his debut relief of Militao against Osasuna, recording an assist while helping the Merengues keep a clean sheet, but Real Madrid can't possibly go into the thick of the Champions League campaign and La Liga title race with only Asencio and Rudiger as options. Although Sergio Ramos has been linked to Real Madrid as an immediate center back signing, the current free agent looks like an unrealistic option due to the club's desire to only sign players for the future. RB Leipzig standout Castello Lukeba looks like the favorite to join Real Madrid in January, but with a need ...
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Real Madrid won’t pursue the most obvious center back upgrade
10Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

Real Madrid won’t pursue the most obvious center back upgrade

Desperation doesn't even begin to describe the feeling that should be reverberating around the walls of the Valdebebas after Real Madrid lost their best defender to a season-ending ACL tear on Saturday against Osasuna. For the second straight season, Eder Militao is down for the count, joining the club's only other elite defensive option, Dani Carvajal, on the injured list with a torn ACL. And with Lucas Vazquez injured for a weeks, too, with David Alaba still on the shelf from his own ACL tear last year, Real Madrid have dwindling options across their back line. As it stands right now, Antonio Rudiger is their only healthy senior center back, the club doesn't have a single option at right back besides Castilla talent Jesus Fortea, and the left back position remains a revolving do...
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Liverpool could sign Europe’s most underrated CB at a discount price
10Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Features

Liverpool could sign Europe’s most underrated CB at a discount price

Liverpool have arguably the world's best defensive partnership in Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, and both men have been fantastic this season with the Reds sitting firmly in first place in the Premier League. If it weren't for Barcelona's record numbers in attack, more and more people around the world would be talking about Liverpool as the Champions League favorites, as new manager Arne Slot has gotten the most out of his personnel. Although Liverpool are set with their starters at center back and aren't desperate for any additions, they have been wisely staying plugged in for young central defenders who could one day step into Van Dijk's massive shoes. This past summer, Liverpool were among the elite teams interested in teenage phenom Leny Yoro, but they ultimately decided...
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Real Madrid are about to take drastic measures at center back
10Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

Real Madrid are about to take drastic measures at center back

Real Madrid were able to keep a clean sheet in their latest La Liga game after surrendering a combined seven goals to Barcelona and AC Milan, but there was no time to celebrate a strong defensive performance. First of all, Osasuna is Osasuna. Sorry. But second of all and most importantly, Real Madrid lost, by far, their best defensive player of the season to an ACL tear, with Eder Militao suffering the major injury for a second straight season. Antonio Pintus' future should be non-existent after yet another torn ACL a Real Madrid player, but, that point aside, Los Blancos are in serious trouble defensively with Antonio Rudiger as the only healthy, senior first-team center back. Real Madrid didn't sign a center back this past summer. Or the summer before that. Or even in the winter...
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The star Real Madrid have to worry most about losing in 2025
10Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

The star Real Madrid have to worry most about losing in 2025

Real Madrid are in a difficult period, because even though they got back to winning ways with a Vinicius Junior hat trick- fueled 4-0 demolition of solid La Liga side Osasuna, they also lost superstar center back Eder Militao for the rest of the 2024/25 season. Already, Real Madrid are falling behind Barcelona in the title race after a 4-0 drubbing in El Clasico, and they didn't exactly instill confidence against top competition by getting dismantled by a thoroughly mediocre AC Milan side 3-1 in the Champions League. Nobody is facing more pressure at the Santiago Bernabeu than manager Carlo Ancelotti, who, for the first time in his second stint at the club, is playing for his job. Real Madrid don't want to fire Ancelotti - certainly not before they can secure Xabi Alonso as his re...
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West Ham’s leading candidate to replace Julen Lopetegui starting to come into focus
10Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Features

West Ham’s leading candidate to replace Julen Lopetegui starting to come into focus

With a 0-0 loss to one of the Premier League's now perennial relegation candidates, West Ham are clearly playing well below their standard under Julen Lopetegui, who was expected to have the Hammers at least somewhat improving initially on the poor second half of the 2023/24 season under David Moyes. Because, for starters, Moyes did have the Hammers looking good in the first half of the season before injuries took their toll, and, secondly, West Ham added so much talent to support Lopetegui this summer, particularly in the attack. While it's true that some of the big name acquisitions like Niclas Fullkrug, Carlos Soler, and Jean-Clair Todibo have yet to make an impact, there is simply no excuse for how poorly this team has performed under Lopetegui. Before the season even started,...
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Even Guti is banging the drum for Real Madrid’s easiest defensive upgrade
10Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

Even Guti is banging the drum for Real Madrid’s easiest defensive upgrade

Real Madrid pitched a shutout on Saturday morning in La Liga, blanketing an Osasuna attack that once put up four on league leaders Barcelona this season to bounce back from 4-0 and 3-1 defeats to Barcelona and AC Milan, respectively. But Osasuna isn't the greatest barometer for Real's ability to stop the attacks that could actually ruin their title chances in La Liga and the Champions League, and, if anything, things are about to get worse for Real Madrid. For the second straight season, Eder Militao has gone down with a torn ACL, taking, by far, Real's best defender out of the equation. And Real were still without a key center back in David Alaba, still recovering from his own season-ending injury from last December. That leaves Antonio Rudiger as the lone senior center back in t...
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Barcelona are ready to play spoilers to Real Madrid for a target Los Blancos need much more
9Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

Barcelona are ready to play spoilers to Real Madrid for a target Los Blancos need much more

Barcelona have been getting the better of Real Madrid lately, with the most glaring example being another 4-0 El Clasico drubbing in which Los Blancos looked completely out of sorts in the second half. With the way Barcelona are playing right now in all competitions, the Blaugrana are clear favorites in La Liga, and after Eder Militao's season-ending injury, the Merengue back line looks like a disaster. Real Madrid will have to regroup in the winter window and finally bring in some established center back talents in order to avoid this La Liga title race becoming a lopsided one in Barca's favor. New manager Hansi Flick has the Blaugrana rolling, but judging by the latest ambitious transfer rumors, Flick and Co. aren't going to sit idly by and let Real Madrid get back on top. Ac...
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Manchester United are battling to sign the world’s two best up-and-coming strikers
9Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Features

Manchester United are battling to sign the world’s two best up-and-coming strikers

Manchester United have signed a talented young striker from Serie A in each of the past two summer transfer windows, first inking the high-upside Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta and then nabbing well-rounded Bologna breakout star Joshua Zirkzee after the Rossoblu's shock Champions League qualification. Hojlund has flashed his world-class potential in Manchester United colors, showing the athleticism and dribbling ability that made him a menace under Gian Piero Gasperini before quickly bolting for the bright lights of the Premier League. It's still too early for Zirkzee, but the former Bayern Munich prospect is already making some Manchester United supporters have buyer's remorse, with the Dutchman predictably struggling in Erik ten Hag's lethargic attack without players to combine with ...
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Barcelona are dropping one of their dream transfer targets now
8Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

Barcelona are dropping one of their dream transfer targets now

Barcelona president Joan Laporta had one aim when he took his old job back, and that was to get the Blaugrana back on top in European football after their standard had slipped to an embarrassing and entirely unacceptable level. Now in 2024/25, Barcelona look almost recognizable to the club that was first kept afloat by Lionel Messi and then later mired in losses during the 2021/22 season after he had left for Paris. Barcelona are fresh off demolitions of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid - two European powers who consistently had their number over the past five years - and they are by far the favorites to win the Spanish league. Hansi Flick has turned Barcelona back to its status as appointment television, as with the elite attacking trident of veteran striker Robert Lewandowski, brea...
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