Ritabrata Banerjee

Ritabrata Banerjee

News writer

📝Bio: Ritabrata has been living and breathing football for nearly two decades. Has a bachelor's degree in Business Management but took up sports journalism as a career path to live and breathe football. He joined GOAL in 2017 and has since made his mark covering the Indian Super League, I-League, and the Indian national team. He has also been part of Goal's coverage team at the FIFA U17 World Cup 2017. Based in Kolkata, where football is a religion, he grew up idolising Bhaichung Bhutia and continues to support East Bengal FC. 

⚽My Football Story: My football journey began in 1999 with the Kolkata derby when I was a seven-year-old and watched a live football match for the first time. The 2002 World Cup solidified my love for the game. In a cricket-obsessed nation, football continues to remain my true passion.

🎯Areas of Expertise:

  • Social media-specific content
  • Premier League, Champions League, World Cup, Euros, European & Indian football coverage
  • Tactical analysis of the Indian national team, Indian Super League clubs and European teams
  • News & SEO content writing

🌟Favourite Footballing Memory: East Bengal winning the ASEAN Club Championship in 2003, beating then AFC Champions League runners-up BEC Tero Sasana of Thailand, remains my most cherished football memory alongside watching the 'little Argentine' lifting the 2022 World Cup in Doha.

📝My All-Time XI: Manuel Neuer; Philipp Lahm, Sergio Ramos, Paolo Maldini, Roberto Carlos; Sergio Busquets, Zinedine Zidane, Andres Iniesta; Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo Phenomenon, Lionel Messi.

Articles by Ritabrata Banerjee
  1. Rashford's hopes of making permanent Barcelona switch in doubt

    Marcus Rashford's hope of making a permanent switch to Barcelona next summer has hit a roadblock as the Spanish giants are all set to see their spending power slashed by £100m due to La Liga's latest constraints. Rashford has regained his old form since moving on loan to Barcelona from Manchester United in the summer and the player reportedly wishes to stay back beyond this season.

  2. Barca line up Kane as Lewandowski replacement

    FC Barcelona are plotting a move to sign England captain Harry Kane from Bayern Munich as the La Liga giants look to replace an ageing Robert Lewandowski. At 37, Lewandowski is in the final year of his contract with the Blaugrana and the Polish forward is likely to move away from the club in the summer of 2026. The Catalan giants see Kane as an immediate replacement for their star forward.

  3. Frank offers olive branch to Spurs outcast Bissouma

    Thomas Frank has offered olive branch to Tottenham outcast Yves Bissouma following the Mali international's failed move out of the club in the summer transfer window. Bissouma, who has entered the final year of his contract, was strongly linked with a move away from Spurs but the midfielder failed to secure a transfer and stayed back in the Premier League.

  4. Guardiola hails 'extraordinary' Arteta

    Pep Guardiola has hailed Mikel Arteta as "extraordinary" and claimed that Arsenal are "one of the toughest opponents" to beat in Europe ahead of Manchester City's trip to the Emirates Stadium. Other than Liverpool, Arteta's Gunners have given Guardiola's City the toughest competition in the Premier League title race in the last decade and they are unbeaten in their last five head-to-head clashes.

  5. Ekitike warned to brace for bench duty behind 'far better' Isak

    Hugo Ekitike has been told to brace for bench duty behind "far better" Liverpool team-mate Alexander Isak once the British record signing regains full fitness. Ekitike and Isak both joined the Reds this summer as the champions spent heavily in the transfer window to bolster their attack. However, Isak only moved on deadline day and didn't get a full pre-season after essentially going on strike at Newcastle.

  6. Alexander-Arnold to miss next England camp after fresh injury blow

    Trent Alexander-Arnold is reportedly set for six weeks on the sidelines after Real Madrid confirmed the full extent of his new injury. The England international lasted less than five minutes on the pitch on his Champions League debut for Madrid as he was forced off with a muscle issue against Marseille on Tuesday. Dani Carvajal came on as a replacement but the Spaniard was later sent off for headbutting an opponent.

  7. Mbappe to SKIP Ballon d'Or ceremony

    Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has confirmed that he will skip the Ballon d'Or ceremony this year and revealed the player he wants to see win the 2025 Golden Ball. Mbappe scored 44 goals across all competitions and was La Liga's top scorer in his first season at Santiago Bernabeu, but does not feel he is a realistic Ballon d'Or contender because Real Madrid failed to win any major trophies.

  8. Kane 'motivated' to silence Chelsea faithful

    Ex-Tottenham striker Harry Kane has admitted that he's "motivated" to silence the Chelsea fans as Bayern Munich prepare to host Enzo Maresca's side in their Champions League opener on Wednesday. Kane has kicked off another campaign in Germany on a fiery note, scoring eight goals across all competitions in just five appearances.

  9. Man Utd told Amorim would have been perfect fit for rivals

    Manchester United have been told that Ruben Amorim would have been a perfect fit for one of their Premier League rivals. Since taking charge at Old Trafford, Amorim has managed United in 47 matches across all competitions, out of which they have won just 17 and have a 36 per cent win rate. The Red Devils were soundly beaten by Manchester City in their latest outing to pile more pressure on Amorim.

  1. Liberato Cacace

    Wrexham lose £4m summer signing as Parkinson confirms new injury blow

    Wrexham have been dealt another major injury blow, with Phil Parkinson confirming that £4m summer signing Liberato Cacace has been ruled out of action "for weeks". The Red Dragons have endured a nightmare start to their 2025-26 Championship campaign as they find themselves in the bottom half of the table with just one win from their first five matches. They have been plagued with multiple injuries since start of the season.

  2. Alonso delivers update on Alexander-Arnold injury

    Xabi Alonso delivered an update on Trent Alexander-Arnold's injury after the Real Madrid full-back was forced off in their 2-1 Champions League win against Marseille on Tuesday inside the first five minutes. Alexander-Arnold was replaced by veteran defender Dani Carvajal, who was shown a red card in the 72nd minute for headbutting Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.

  3. Carrick lands new job three months after Middlesbrough sacking

    Manchester United legend Michael Carrick has taken up a new job just three months after parting ways with Middlesbrough. The Riverside club sacked Carrick at the end of the 2024-25 campaign after a 10th-placed finish in the Championship. The ex-United midfielder was initially appointed in 2022 and earned praise for his initial impact but Middlesbrough decided to make a change after failing to make the play-offs in each of the last two seasons.

  4. Mourinho in advanced talks with Benfica after Lage sacking

    Jose Mourinho is reportedly in advanced talks to take the reins at Benfica after the Portuguese club sacked manager Bruno Lage in the aftermath of their humiliating Champions League defeat to Qarabag FK. The Liga Portugal giants blew a two-goal lead on their way to a 3-2 defeat in their Champions League opener at home on Tuesday. Lage was immediately relieved of his duties after the game.

  5. Ten Hag REJECTS return to former club

    Ex-Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has reportedly rejected a return to one of his old clubs in a bid to protect his finances following his sudden departure from Bayer Leverkusen. Ten Hag returned to management in the summer after being sacked by the Red Devils last October, but only lasted two leagues games in the BayArena hot seat.

  6. Lammens' brother felt Galatasaray was a better move than Man Utd

    Senne Lammens' brother has admitted he felt that the Belgian goalkeeper should have joined Galatasaray instead of Manchester United in the summer transfer window, amid fears he would "succumb to the pressure" of life at Old Trafford. Lammens completed an £18 million ($25m) deadline day move from Royal Antwerp as the Red Devils decided against placing a formal offer for Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez.

  7. Alvarez left OUT of Atletico's squad to face Liverpool

    Julian Alvarez has been left out of Atletico Madrid's squad to face Liverpool in their Champions League opener, with USMNT midfielder Johnny Cardoso also missing due to an injury. Alvarez has been a mainstay in Diego Simeone's side since completing his move to the Spanish club from Manchester City in 2024, and has two goal contributions to his name from four appearances so far this season.