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. Kane explains how Bayern built a team that 'suits me a lot'

    Harry Kane explained how Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany has built a team that greatly suits him after starring with a brace in their thumping win over Hamburg on Saturday in the Bundesliga. The England captain scored twice and provided an assist, while Luis Diaz, Serge Gnabry and Aleksandar Pavlovic scored the other goals on the night.

  2. FA Cup tie called off after alleged racial abuse

    An FA Cup second qualifying round clash was called off over alleged racial abuse as players and managers of both clubs walked off the pitch in protest. The clash between Sporting Khalsa and Hereford was stopped in the 67th minute after Sporting Khalsa goalkeeper Ravan Constable was racially abused. The game paused for a bit before the referee calling it off.

  3. Man City fans fume as Etihad worker spotted wearing Man Utd shirt

    Manchester City were forced to take action after a worker was spotted wearing a Manchester United shirt while serving pints at the Etihad Stadium on derby day. A fan on social media shared the image of the member of staff and brought it to the club's attention, and City swiftly 'removed' the person from their position. On the pitch, the Cityzens demolished their rivals 3-0 courtesy of a brace from Erling Haaland.

  1. Jadon Sancho

    Emery's explanation for benching Sancho against Everton

    Unai Emery explained why he kept Jadon Sancho on the bench against Everton last Saturday as the Manchester United loanee is forced to wait on his Aston Villa debut. After being shunned from the first team and included in Ruben Amorim's "bomb squad", Sancho was destined to leave Old Trafford during the transfer window and he eventually managed to secure a loan move to Villa Park on deadline day.

  2. 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.

  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. 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.

  5. Premier League icon keen to make managerial comeback

    Iconic Premier League manager Rafael Benitez wants to make a managerial comeback in England's top-flight before formally ending his illustrious coaching career. The Spanish head coach managed four different English clubs in the last three decades, including his maiden stint at Anfield, where he guided Liverpool to their fifth Champions League title.

  6. Revealed: Staggering sum Man Utd must fork out to sack Amorim

    Manchester United will have to fork out a staggering fee in compensation if they plan to sack Ruben Amorim in the middle of the season. The Red Devils are off to a nightmare start in the 2025-26 campaign and it only got worse after their humiliating derby loss against Manchester City last Sunday. The Red Devils currently find themselves 14th in the Premier League after four games.