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. Real Madrid legend's professionalism questioned by Messi's boyhood club

    Lionel Messi's boyhood club Newell's Old Boys questioned Real Madrid legend Keylor Navas' professionalism as the Costa Rican goalkeeper left the Argentine club after just six months to join Liga MX side Pumas. Newell's will receive compensation worth $2 million (£1.4m) from the Mexican team. Navas moved to Argentina in January after spending nearly 15 years in Europe.

  2. Sterling set for fresh start abroad with Champions League club

    Raheem Sterling is all set to leave Chelsea this summer and make a fresh start abroad with a Champions League club after a failed loan spell at Arsenal in the 2024-25 campaign. The English winger did not score a single Premier League goal and made only seven starts in the English top-flight for the Gunners. He returned to Stamford Bridge at the end of his loan spell, but was not picked in the Blues' Club World Cup squad.

  3. Simons open to Chelsea transfer after initial approach

    Chelsea have enquired about the availability of Xavi Simons, who is open to the possibility of a move to Stamford Bridge. The Blues, however, will have to make a sale or two before they can make a formal bid for the RB Leipzig star. Chelsea have already bolstered their squad by signing forwards like Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens, while Estevao Willian is also set to join the club.

  4. Messi, Ronaldo & Neymar all make Yamal’s GOAT team

    Lamine Yamal picked his star-studded all-time XI which consists of legends from Barcelona and Real Madrid. Six players from Los Blancos have made it to Yamal's attacking team, including all-time greats like Zinedine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldo Nazario, while Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and Neymar have made the cut from the Catalan giants.

  5. Williams explains why he snubbed Barcelona transfer

    Nico Williams has finally opened up on why he chose to reject a transfer to Barcelona in favour of signing a new contract with Athletic Club. The Catalan giants were very close to signing the winger this summer, however, the 23-year-old eventually decided to stay in Bilbao as he committed to a new ten-year deal that will keep him at San Mames until 2035.

  6. Barcelona set to cancel Spotify Camp Nou partial re-opening

    La Liga champions Barcelona are set to cancel their planned return to the Spotify Camp Nou for their Joan Gamper Trophy clash against Como next month. The Blaugrana have not played in the iconic stadium since March 2023, and instead played at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys as extensive renovation work was done at their home ground.

  1. Chiesa set for second chance at Liverpool in shock new role

    Federico Chiesa is likely to stay at Anfield despite an underwhelming debut campaign with Liverpool last season. The Italian left Juventus to join the Liverpool but he failed to break into Arne Slot's starting lineup and ended up with only 14 appearances under his belt across all competitions in 2024-25. The Reds, however, are ready to hand Chiesa a second chance in a new role.

  2. Rodrygo Real Madrid 2025

    Liverpool ready to battle Arsenal for €100m Rodrygo

    Liverpool have joined Arsenal in the race to sign Real Madrid winger Rodrygo. The Brazil international has been linked with a move out of Santiago Bernabeu this summer after seeing his game time reduced under new manager Xabi Alonso. The Reds are looking for an attacker to further bolster their Premier League-winning squad ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.

  3. Liverpool consider outrageous Rashford swoop

    Liverpool are reportedly considering a surprising transfer swoop for Manchester United outcast Marcus Rashford as the English forward is looking to exit Old Trafford this summer. The Reds are prioritising a move for a No.9 this summer and have prepared a shortlist of six players, including Rashford, who is also being linked with a move to Spanish champions Barcelona.

  4. Carroll endures 5-1 humiliation on Dagenham and Redbridge debut

    Former Liverpool striker Andy Carroll endured a nightmare debut in non-league football for Dagenham and Redbridge as his team went down 5-1 against League Two side Crawley Town in a pre-season friendly. The 36-year-old, who once broke the British transfer record when moving to Anfield from Newcastle, is making a fresh start in the sixth tier of English football after leaving Bordeaux.

  5. Reynolds & McElhenney hailed for making Wrexham 'shinier'

    Former Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster has spoken highly of the club's Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, crediting them for making the Red Dragons "shinier" without losing their "essence". Foster played for Wrexham across two different spells, with his first stint coming back in 2005 when he joined the club from Stoke City on a loan deal.

  6. Luis Diaz Liverpool 2025

    Bayern table £59m Diaz bid after he requests Liverpool exit

    Bayern Munich have submitted their first formal bid for Luis Diaz, who has informed Liverpool that he wants to exit Anfield this summer. However, Diaz's current contract runs until 2027 and the Reds have made it clear that they won't sell the Colombian star as they consider him as an integral part of their long-term project under Arne Slot.