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 Mbappe is trying to broker his Liverpool exit

    Ibrahima Konate has jokingly claimed that Kylian Mbappe calls him frequently to convince him to follow in Trent Alexander-Arnold's footsteps and join Real Madrid next summer. Konate, who has entered the final year of his contract with Liverpool, has been linked with a move to Los Blancos as he has yet to negotiate a new deal with the Premier League champions.

  2. Liverpool rule OUT imminent approach for Guehi

    Liverpool won't reignite their interest in Marc Guehi in the January transfer window as they look to sign the England defender for free next summer once his Crystal Palace contract expires. The Reds were very close to landing Guehi in the summer transfer window, until Palace chairman Steve Parish pulled the plug on the deal at the 11th hour on deadline day.

  3. Rooney backs Grealish for England recall

    Wayne Rooney has backed Jack Grealish to make an England comeback after he joined Everton on loan in the summer. Grealish ended his struggles at Manchester City during the transfer window by completing a switch to the Toffees. He has made a bright start to his journey on Merseyside, registering four assists in three Premier League games.

  4. Rooney reveals hilarious encounter between Van Gaal & Coleen

    England legend Wayne Rooney has opened up on the hilariously awkward first encounter between former Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal and his wife, Coleen. Rooney was an important figure in the United squad managed by the legendary Dutch manager between 2014 and 2016. Together they won the FA Cup in the 2015-16 campaign, but it wasn't enough to keep Van Gaal in the job.

  5. England sweat on Guehi's fitness ahead of tough Serbia test

    England are sweating on Marc Guehi's fitness ahead of their crucial World Cup qualifying game against Serbia. The Three Lions have maintained a 100 per cent win record in qualifying so far, including the victory over Andorra on Saturday, where Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice was on target, but they could be without Crystal Palace star Guehi on Tuesday night.

  6. Ancelotti fires World Cup warning to Neymar

    Carlo Ancelotti fired a warning to Neymar regarding his selection in Brazil's World Cup squad after he admitted that the Santos star is not guaranteed a place in his plans for next summer's tournament. Since taking charge of the Selecao earlier in the summer, Ancelotti has omitted Neymar from his squads for the June and September international breaks.

  1. Maresca admits he has not seen Sterling since season began

    Enzo Maresca has admitted that he has 'not seen' Chelsea outcast Raheem Sterling since the start of the 2025-26 campaign. Sterling is part of the Blues' 'bomb squad' and will remain so after he failed to secure a move away from Stamford Bridge in the summer transfer window. After spending last season on loan at Arsenal, the winger returned to Chelsea but was deemed surplus to their needs.

  2. Haaland shows off bizarre calendar featuring him holding gun

    Erling Haaland has shown off a bizarre personalised calendar where the Manchester City star can be seen holding a gun, while riding a motorcycle with a mystery woman. The Snapchat story also featured internet sensation Hasbulla Magomedov with Ronaldo Nazario's famous haircut. Haaland is currently high on confidence after scoring five goals in Norway's 11-1 thumping of Moldova in their latest round of World Cup qualifiers.

  3. Guardiola fired stark warning about his Man City side

    Pep Guardiola has been warned that his Manchester City have lost their "fear factor" after an underwhelming start to their 2025-26 Premier League campaign. After finishing 13 points behind champions Liverpool in third position last season, City have gotten off to a poor start, losing back-to-back league games against Tottenham and Brighton before the international break.

  4. Chelsea's plans for Buonanotte revealed

    Chelsea's plan for new signing Facundo Buonanotte has been revealed after signing the Argentine midfielder on a season-long loan deal from Brighton on deadline day. Buonanotte was close to sealing a temporary switch to newly-promoted Leeds United, but the Blues swept in to hijack the deal, which saw them pay a £2 million (€2.3m/$2.7m) loan fee for the Brighton sensation.

  5. Maresca refuses to blame Brentford collapse on UCL return

    Enzo Maresca hit back at the claim that Chelsea were distracted by their Champions League commitments after Brentford's late comeback in their Premier League clash on Saturday. The Bees scored a late equaliser to snatch away a point in a 2-2 draw with the Blues, who next face Bayern Munich in their Champions League opener next week.

  6. Garnacho slammed for 'falling asleep' on Chelsea debut

    New Chelsea signing Alejandro Garnacho has been slammed for an error on his Blues debut which led to Brentford's late equaliser in Saturday's 2-2 draw. Enzo Maresca's side were on course to climb to the top of the Premier League table with a win at the Gtech Community Stadium but Fabio Carvalho's leveller allowed the Bees to stage a comeback and walk away with a point.

  7. Kane gets top marks from German media after Bayern rout

    Harry Kane got top marks from German media after starring in Bayern Munich's demolition of Hamburg. The England captain contributed with a brace and an assist as the reigning German champions registered a 5-0 win and maintained their 100 percent win record to start the 2025-26 Bundesliga campaign. With the two strikes on Saturday, Kane has now taken his goals tally to eight this term.

  8. Casemiro's three closest Man Utd team-mates revealed

    Casemiro's agent has revealed the Brazilian's three closest Manchester United team-mates as he has taken new signing under his wings. Since Ruben Amorim's arrival at United, Casemiro has taken on the role of a key veteran in midfield alongside club captain Bruno Fernandes. The Brazilian was linked with a transfer to Saudi Arabia in the summer, but he is happy to continue at Old Trafford.