📝Bio: 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 wouldn’t 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.⚽My Football Story: 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 – what grabbed my imagination was Ronaldo’s 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.
🎯Areas of Expertise:
Social media-specific content
Premier League, Champions League, European & Indian football coverage
Tactical analysis on the Indian national team
World Cup & European Championship tournaments
🌟Favourite Footballing Memory: The day Mohun Bagan demolished East Bengal 5-3 in the Kolkata Derby, with Chidi Edeh scoring four - a moment when the city turned maroon and green. But nothing beats the spine-tingling sight of Sergio Ramos’ 93rd-minute header in Lisbon, the goal that crowned Real Madrid’s La Decima and etched itself into footballing history.📝My All-Time XI: Iker Casillas; Phillip Lahm, Sergio Ramos, Fabio Cannavaro, Roberto Carlos; Claude Makélélé, Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane; Cristiano Ronaldo, Raúl, Lionel Messi.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has reaffirmed that Alexander Isak remains part of the club’s long-term plans, but admitted the Sweden international cannot currently train with the squad or feature in their Premier League curtain-raiser against Aston Villa. The decision comes amid mounting transfer speculation linking the forward with a transfer to the reigning English champions Liverpool.
Manchester United have reportedly shown interest in Internacional's young forward, Ricardo Mathias, following a scouting mission this week. According to Globo Esporte, the Premier League club sent an official scout to observe the 19-year-old in action during Internacional’s Copa do Brasil match against Fluminense at the Maracana Stadium. Although Internacional was eliminated after the 1-1 draw, the performance of their rising star did not go unnoticed by potential suitors.
Luka Modric is diving headfirst into his role at Swansea City as he works to help the club secure a return to the Premier League. Despite his recent move to AC Milan the Croatian legend has made it clear that he intends to play a hands-on role in Swansea’s ambitions. His involvement goes beyond the boardroom, and there is even hope that Modric could finish his career playing for the Welsh club.
The football community continues to mourn the loss of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, with AS Roma's Paulo Dybala, accompanied by veteran manager Claudio Ranieri and sporting director Frederic Massara, arrived at Anfield to lay a bouquet of flowers at the growing memorial dedicated to Jota. The Portuguese international and his younger brother, André Silva, tragically lost their lives in a car accident in Spain in early July.
Manchester City’s training ground had a touch of nostalgia this week as former winger Riyad Mahrez made an unexpected appearance, reuniting with old team-mates and staff. The 34-year-old, remembered as one of the defining figures of City’s dominant era, was spotted walking through the Etihad Campus, exchanging warm greetings and laughter with familiar faces.
Manchester United won on penalties but were held to a 1-1 draw by Fiorentina in their final pre-season friendly as Bryan Mbeumo shone the brightest amid a lacklustre attacking unit.
Former Liverpool star Jermaine Pennant has thrown down the gauntlet to Newcastle United, sell Alexander Isak to Liverpool for £110 million ($148m) or risk a season of drama and disappointment. Pennant believes the Magpies are playing with fire by holding on to an unsettled striker, insisting a quick sale would end the saga and give Eddie Howe the funds to rebuild before the new campaign kicks off.
Robert Lewandowski has made it clear he is not ready to walk away from Barcelona, turning down approaches from Saudi Arabia and setting his sights firmly on continuing his career in Catalonia. The veteran striker is determined to see out his current deal, and possibly extend it, despite being linked to a lucrative move to the Middle East.
RB Leipzig are reportedly ready to bring Christopher Nkunku back to Germany, as part of a blockbuster deal that would see Xavi Simons join Chelsea in a £60 million ($81m) move. The Bundesliga side have floated the sensational idea of a player-plus-cash swap with Chelsea preparing to move out several players, including Nkunku, before going all-in on their top attacking targets.
Newcastle United are on the verge of securing the signature of AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw, with the towering centre-back expected to undergo his medical on Monday before penning a deal that will take him to Tyneside. The Magpies have agreed an initial payment of €35million (£30.3m / $40.8m), with a further €5m (£4.3m / $5.8m) in potential performance-related bonuses close to being finalised.
Virgil van Dijk was furious as Wembley’s air of solemnity was broken on Sunday as a small group of Crystal Palace supporters disrupted a minute’s silence for Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, ahead of the Community Shield. The two brothers tragically lost their lives in a car accident in Spain last month, and both sets of players had gathered at the centre circle to honour their memory.
Marcus Rashford left Raphinha stunned as he missed the chance tap into an open goal during a friendly against Como. The 27-year-old forward, who arrived at the Nou Camp on loan from Manchester United this summer with an option for a permanent deal, was handed a golden chance to pad the scoreline. Instead, he somehow contrived to miss an empty net in front of a stunned crowd.
Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson is reportedly ready to call time on his Stamford Bridge stay as he has set his sights on a move to Newcastle United. But the transfer is hanging by a thread, tied to the future of Newcastle’s star man Alexander Isak, who is being hunted by Liverpool in one of the window’s fiercest transfer battles.
Manchester United’s Under-21s were forced to abandon their National League Cup tie at Tamworth following a frightening head injury to rising star Sekou Kone. The Group A fixture, held at the Lamb Ground on Wednesday evening, came to an abrupt halt after the 19-year-old Mali international was hurt while defending a corner.
Manchester City have wasted no time in filling the famous No.10 shirt, handing it to French prodigy Rayan Cherki in the wake of Jack Grealish’s departure to Everton. The 21-year-old arrived from Lyon just before the FIFA Club World Cup in a deal worth €36 million (£30.5m), with further add-ons potentially inflating the fee.
Thomas Frank’s Tottenham reign was within touching distance of its first piece of silverware, only for Paris Saint-Germain to rip it away in the final moments and twist the knife on penalties. The North Londoners were cruising with an 80-minute stranglehold over their star-laden French rivals in the Super Cup final, but a late implosion saw dreams turn to dust.
Arne Slot has confirmed that Liverpool have agreed on a deal with Parma for defender Giovanni Leoni ahead of Liverpool's Premier League opener against Bournemouth. The Reds will fork out £26 million ($35m) for the Italian teenage sensation as the Dutch manager is eager to throw him straight into first-team action.
Real Madrid have reportedly sent shockwaves through Anfield after opening direct lines with Ibrahima Konate over a blockbuster move to the Bernabeu. The 26-year-old has become one of the Premier League’s most dependable centre-backs at Merseyside, but his future now hangs in the balance. Madrid’s interest comes at a critical moment as his contract with the Reds runs out at the end of this season, leaving the club at risk of losing him for nothing.
Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah has delivered a heartfelt goodbye to Darwin Nunez after the Uruguayan forward sealed a big-money switch to Saudi champions Al-Hilal. The 26-year-old’s departure marks the end of a turbulent three-year spell at Anfield, where moments of brilliance were mixed with frustration, ultimately falling short of the club’s lofty expectations.
Arsenal icon Tony Adams has sparked a major leadership debate at the Emirates, insisting Mikel Arteta must strip Martin Odegaard of the captaincy if the club are serious about ending their long wait for a Premier League title. The former Gunners skipper, who lifted four league trophies during his decorated career, believes the armband should be handed to Declan Rice, a player he sees as the embodiment of a champion.