đBio:Â Soham has been living and breathing football stories for almost a decade, carving his path as a news and SEO writer with an instinct for the big moments. Armed with an MA (Honours) in Sports Journalism from Symbiosis International University, he knew early on that his future wouldnât be on the pitch but behind the pen, shaping narratives about the game he adores. He joined GOAL in 2017 and has since made his mark covering the Indian Super League, I-League, and the Indian national team. Based in Kolkata, where football is a religion, he grew up watching Bhaichung Bhutia scoring goals for fun in India, before falling head over heels for Real Madrid, a club that now dictates the rhythm of his everyday life.âœMy Football Story:Â It all began back in 2002. A cricket bat in hand, ready to step out, but then the skies opened up. The rain kept me indoors, and that twist of fate led me to the sofa, beside my father, who had a football match on TV. Little did I know at the time but it was the World Cup final: Brazil vs Germany. Forget the goals â what grabbed my imagination was Ronaldoâs haircut and his iconic celebration. From there, cricket slowly faded and football fever took over. By my teenage years, I was sneaking out of bed at 1am to watch the Champions League - fair to say I was hooked for life.
đŻAreas of Expertise:Â
Social media-specific content
Premier League, Champions League, European & Indian football coverage
Hugo Ekitike has not been fined by Liverpool for a "stupid" red card as Arne Slot claimed that the striker is "allowed to make a mistake". The French forward, who came off the bench to score the decisive goal in Tuesday's 2-1 win against Southampton, was sent off just moments after taking off his shirt in celebration, earning a second booking having already picked up a yellow card.
West Ham have been told they should consider Frank Lampard as Graham Potter's replacement despite his poor relations with the club and its fans. The Hammers find themselves in crisis following a dismal start to the Premier League season. They have lost four of their opening five games, with last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace piling more pressure on the under-fire manager.
Daniel Levy has been defended from criticism from Tottenham fans by his former player Eric Dier following his removal from the chairman position. The Lewis family, who control the club, moved to sack Levy earlier this month, handing the reins to Peter Charrington as non-executive chairman. Insiders hailed the move as the dawn of a 'new era' for Spurs.
Kobbie Mainoo reportedly has a new best friend at Manchester United after the academy star was forced to find new mates following Alejandro Garnacho's exit. Unitedâs dressing room dynamics have shifted again, and itâs Mainoo who has had to adapt. The 19-year-old midfielder, once inseparable from Garnacho, has found himself forging a fresh bond after his best mate departed Old Trafford last month.
Graham Potter admitted that his recent face-swap meme trend "made my son laugh" amid pressure to turn around West Ham fortunes. Potter's reign is hanging by the thinnest of threads, and fans have already decided his fate; through 'ridicule'. After last weekend's bruising home defeat to Crystal Palace, the Hammers faithful unleashed their trademark gallows humour, flooding social media with pictures of his face swapped onto others.
Xabi Alonso believes Franco Mastantuono has the Real Madrid "gene" as the manager waxed lyrical about the 18-year-old's bright start since his summer transfer from River Plate. Madridâs swoop for Mastantuono had been in the works for months. They agreed a deal but had to bide their time until the wonderkid turned 18. Once the birthday candles were blown out, the six-year contract was sealed, tying him to the Bernabeu until 2031.
Marseille sporting director Medhi Benatia thinks Roberto de Zerbi has "something of Pep Guardiola" in him and hailed the Italian as a "beautiful and inspiring" coach. The manager has transformed the Ligue 1 outfit with his Midas touch, taking them into this season's Champions League while they currently sit top of the French top-flight after six games.
Barcelona have been told to get rid of Hansi Flick due to his methods with Robert Lewandowski. Legendary goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski did not mince his words, declaring that a squad the veteran striker âshould have won everything", including the Champions League, last season as he blamed the German coach for their failure.
Liam Rosenior was left "particularly angry" at a referee decision as he claimed that Marseille's Nayef Aguerd should have been sent off for a foul on Emanuel Emegha. Friday night at the Meinau turned into heartbreak for the hosts, who saw their 1-0 lead evaporate in a cruel late collapse in the Ligue 1 encounter against Marseille.
Barcelona star Joan Garcia remains sidelined after a successful knee operation with the goalkeeper in danger of missing the Clasico showdown against Real Madrid in late October. The 24-year-old stopper, signed this summer from Espanyol for âŹ25 million, has been ruled out for between four and six weeks after arthroscopic surgery on a torn meniscus in his left knee.
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has been advised to follow Harry Kane's example amid a slump in form following a nightmare run with hamstring injuries. The England star has struggled to build up any proper rhythm since hobbling off in December 2024 during Arsenalâs 5-1 win over Crystal Palace. After a long stint in the treatment room, Saka returned to action in April against Fulham, but fresh problems resurfaced this summer.
Rangers' Europa League nightmare got worse on Thursday night as they collapsed to a 2-1 defeat against Sturm Graz, leaving boss Russell Martin pointing the finger squarely at his players' mentality. Two catastrophic goals conceded in the first 35 minutes had the Ibrox side chasing shadows, and while Djeidi Gassama's second-half strike gave them hope, it was yet another evening of misery for the travelling fans.
Liverpool target Marc Guehi has been told he could join Real Madrid as the Crystal Palace captain prepares to discuss a free transfer away from Selhurst Park. The England defender was set to join Liverpool in the summer before a move collapsed. Instead of sulking, the 25-year-old has delivered his best football yet, spearheading Palaceâs record-breaking run under Oliver Glasner.
Ruben Amorim has been told that the manager isn't the problem at Manchester United, who have been advised to "get back to schoolboy football". The former Sporting CP coach, who was parachuted into Old Trafford last November with a glowing reputation, has seen his new chapter in England crash hard amid an extremely poor run of results.
Bukayo Saka has finally lifted the lid on the gruelling battle he endured during his longest spell on the sidelines, and the unlikely furry friend who helped him through it. The Arsenal and England sensation, who has been one of the Premier Leagueâs most consistent performers in recent years, saw the 2024-25 season torn apart by recurring hamstring issues that left him sidelined for months.
Ibrahima Konate was fiercely defended by Liverpool head coach Arne Slot amid his rising errors at the back as the Reds look to end their losing run. The French centre-back was shaky against Crystal Palace, gifting two gilt-edged chances in a disastrous first half and picking up a booking in the process. A similar story unfolded at Galatasaray on Tuesday, where his hesitant defending and loose touches under pressure left fans biting their nails.
Yoane Wissa's injury comeback has been further delayed by several weeks after Newcastle sent him for a meeting with a specialist. The ÂŁ55 million summer signing will now miss at least five more matches after a setback. The DR Congo international was expected to make his first appearance against Brighton later this month, but those hopes have been dashed.
Alvaro Negredo has blasted Manchester United's approach towards ÂŁ74 million ($99.5m) striker Benjamin Sesko, warning them that expecting him to win games on his own is unfair and will only hinder his development. The Slovenian forward has been under the microscope since his big-money arrival from RB Leipzig this summer, but he has struggled to deliver the goals expected of him.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has been told by former team-mate Vladimir Smicer that his emotional intensity would have been a liability as a manager, but he's perfectly suited for his current role as a football pundit. He had all the qualities: leadership, tactical awareness, and a deep understanding of the game. But the Merseysider chose a not to take up coaching.
In a groundbreaking move, Demetri Mitchell, the former Manchester United prospect, has revealed he used ChatGPT to handle his contract negotiations at Leyton Orient, bypassing the need for an agent and pocketing extra cash in the process. Mitchell, now 28, had been on the books at Old Trafford but never made an impact on the first-team stage.