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. Konate reveals he will announce future plans 'very soon'

    Ibrahima Konate has revealed that a final decision on his future at Liverpool will be made soon amid strong interest from Real Madrid. The French centre-back has entered the final part of his five-year contract with the English champions that he signed in 2021. The Reds are yet to agree a new deal with the defender, with only weeks left before he can initiate pre-contract talks with foreign clubs.

  2. Ferguson hails 'outstanding' Man Utd summer signing

    Legendary former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson heaped praise on new Manchester United signing Senne Lammens as he also shared valuable advice for manager Ruben Amorim, amid the club's unbeaten run in the Premier League. After a difficult start to the 2025-26 campaign, the Red Devils have endured a brilliant unbeaten run, including a three-game winning streak, since October.

  3. Greenwood 'believes he can play for England again'

    Former Manchester United attacker Mason Greenwood still believes that he can play for the England national team, even though he has been blacklisted by the FA and head coach Thomas Tuchel from selection. Greenwood's last - and only - appearance for the Three Lions came in 2020 in a Nations League clash against Iceland. After that, he was charged with serious criminal allegations, which marked the end of his journey with Three Lions.

  4. Ancelotti tells Chelsea they are 'lucky' to have Estevao

    Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti has told Chelsea that they are 'lucky' to have a player like Estevao Willian after the teenager dazzled with a goal in the Selecao's 2-0 win over Senegal in an international friendly on Saturday. The Blues wonderkid and Manchester United midfielder Casemiro were on target as the five-time world champions secured the victory.

  5. Mbappe 'calls Konate every two hours' over joining Madrid

    Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate has revealed that he gets calls from compatriot Kylian Mbappe every two hours to sign for Real Madrid. The French defender is into the final year of his contract and from January he will be able to hold pre-contract talks with clubs abroad. The Reds, on the other hand, are determined to offer him a new deal to avoid another situation like Trent Alexander-Arnold.

  1. Sesko compared to Henry after Man Utd struggles

    Premier League legend Alan Shearer blamed Benjamin Sesko for Manchester United's troubles this season as the Slovenian forward has been told to improve his game. Ex-Arsenal star Theo Walcott, on the other hand, drew comparison between the United summer signing and Thierry Henry. After winning three matches in a row last month, United have now been held to consecutive draws in the Premier League in November.

  2. Antony aiming to inspire kids after ending Man Utd nightmare

    Antony is hoping to inspire young children as he shared valuable advice for the next generation of players. The Manchester United flop urged the kids to 'dream big', citing his own example of how he has revived his career at Real Betis. Antony finally ended his nightmare at Old Trafford this summer as he permanently joined Betis after spending the last six months of 2024-25 on loan at the La Liga club.

  3. Maresca admits he was 'very worried' about facing Wolves

    Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca claimed that he was "very worried" before facing relegation-threatened Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday. The Blues registered a thumping 3-0 win over the manager-less side to climb up to second in the Premier League table. The result, meanwhile, leaves Wolves rooted to the foot of the table with just two points from the opening 11 games.

  4. Slegers and Bomapastor call for VAR after WSL draw

    Arsenal and Chelsea managers Renee Slegers and Sonia Bompastor called for the introduction of VAR in women's football after a nail-biting Women's Super League clash between the two London rivals on Saturday. The reigning champions took the lead through Alyssa Thompson's first half strike, while the Gunners staged a comeback in the second half as Alessia Russo scored a late equaliser.

  5. Beckham enjoys boozy party with Neville to celebrate knighthood

    Sir David Beckham celebrated his knighthood with close friends Gary Neville and Guy Ritchie as he lavishly splashed out on champagne and enjoyed a party in London. The Manchester United legend's long-awaited knighthood was confirmed in the King's Birthday Honours list in June for his services to sport and charity. He received the award from King Charles III at a ceremony earlier this week in Berkshire.

  6. Isak called out by Liverpool icon for 'huffing and puffing'

    Liverpool's record signing Alexander Isak has been called out by a club legend, with the struggling striker told that he's doing a lot of 'huffing and puffing' but not making himself 'a menace' for the Reds. The Premier League champions signed Isak for a British record fee of £125 million ($169.3m) from Newcastle United in the summer but the Swedish forward is struggling for form at Anfield.

  7. Man Utd fans enjoy Grimsby's Carabao Cup loss to Brentford

    Manchester United supporters very much enjoyed Grimsby Town's downfall as the League Two side crashed out of the Carabao Cup after losing 5-0 against Brentford on Tuesday. Grimsby fans were on cloud nine only a couple of months ago after they dumped the Red Devils out of the competition following an epic penalty shootout win over the Premier League giants. Goalkeeper Andre Onana in particular had a nightmare outing and was later loaned out to Turkey.

  8. Saliba & Martinelli become latest Arsenal injury casualties

    Arsenal have been dealt with a fresh injury blow with star players William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli ruled out of action for their upcoming game with Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup. The duo, along with Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Riccardo Calafiori, picked up problems in their last Premier League encounter against Crystal Palace, which the Gunners won 1-0 to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table.

  9. Ronaldo & Al-Nassr dumped out of cup by 10-man Al-Ittihad

    Karim Benzema starred with a goal as reigning champions Al-Ittihad reached the quarter-final of the Saudi King's Cup of Champions after edging out Pro League leaders Al-Nassr 2-1 on Tuesday. Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane and Joao Felix had a night to forget as they failed to deliver in front of the goal despite dominating proceedings for the majority of the game with an extra player on the pitch.