📝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.
Barcelona have slammed the door shut on Manchester City’s attempts to prise Jules Kounde away, with the Frenchman signing a mammoth new contract tying him to the Catalan giants until 2030. The defender’s previous deal was set to run until 2027, but months of negotiations finally ended with a fresh agreement that cements his future at the Camp Nou.
Newcastle United’s hunt for a new frontman has swung dramatically back to Paris-Saint Germain striker Goncalo Ramos, with reports revealing that the 24-year-old has resurfaced as a genuine option at St. James’ Park. Earlier this month, the Portugal international was brushed aside as an unlikely target after initial probes suggested PSG were unwilling to budge.
Casemiro has insisted that he is "very happy" at Manchester United, shutting down speculation over his future. The Brazilian midfield general, often painted as a fading star on the wrong side of 30, came out swinging after United’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, insisting he remains fully committed to the club.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta reportedly met with Eberechi Eze a month before sensationally swooping to snatch the Crystal Palace ace right out of Tottenham’s grasp in a blockbuster £68 million ($91m) raid. The move, which comes just days after Kai Havertz was ruled out with a knee injury, has sent shockwaves through North London, leaving Spurs supporters fuming over another missed target.
Rasmus Hojlund’s anticipated loan switch to AC Milan is hanging by a thread, with the Italian giants reportedly closing in on Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface instead. The 22-year-old Danish striker had been poised for a season-long loan to the San Siro after falling down the pecking order at Manchester United following the club’s signing of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig.
Manchester United have been keeping tabs on Brighton’s midfield powerhouse Carlos Baleba all summer, but a reported sell-on clause in his contract is being viewed as a major stumbling block to thrash out a transfer deal. At just 21, the Cameroonian has already caught the eye with his fierce tackling, lung-busting runs, and fearless energy at the heart of the Seagulls’ engine room. But United’s admiration has quickly collided with harsh financial reality.
Newcastle United could reportedly bid to sign Inter star Francesco Pio Esposito if Alexander Isak gate crashes his way out of St. James' Park to Liverpool. The Merseyside club are preparing to crank up the pressure on the Magpies with an eye-watering £130 million offer for Isak. The Reds already had a colossal £110m bid thrown back at them earlier this summer, but they are convinced that upping the ante will finally do the job.
Fabian Hurzeler shared a major update on Julio Enciso's potential Brighton exit. Chelsea's ownership group, BlueCo, have launched another raid on Brighton to snap up Enciso, the 21-year-old Paraguayan forward once tipped as one of the Premier League’s brightest young stars.
Manchester United’s sweeping revolution under Sir Jim Ratcliffe has taken another bold step, with the club confirming the appointment of Stephen Torpey as their new academy director. The highly respected coach, who has built a reputation for shaping some of England’s brightest young stars, joins from Brentford but is best known for his near-decade of service at Manchester City.
Jadon Sancho's agents are reportedly demanding a massive fee to facilitate a move to AS Roma. The Manchester United winger, 25, is expected to walk away from Old Trafford before the window slams shut, but the tug-of-war over his signature has taken a fiery twist.
Tottenham have reportedly shifted their focus to AS Monaco’s rising star Maghnes Akliouche after Arsenal hijacked their move for Eberechi Eze in brutal fashion. The deal, which Spurs insiders believed was all but wrapped up, was snatched away at the eleventh hour, plunging them into chaos and igniting fury among already restless supporters.
A foundation created in Diogo Jota’s name has come under fire after shocking revelations that it allegedly has no connection to the late footballer’s family, Liverpool Football Club, or many of the organisations it publicly claimed to be working with. The “Diogo Jota Foundation” has been accepting donations since just three days after the Portuguese forward’s tragic death, with the website claiming to have raised nearly £50,000.
Crystal Palace talisman Eberechi Eze is heading to Arsenal in a blockbuster £67.5 million deal, and manager Oliver Glasner has made no attempt to hide his fury at how the saga has unfolded, leaving them with little time to find a replacement. The England international pulled out of Thursday night’s historic 1-0 Conference League play-off victory over Fredrikstad just hours before kick-off, with Glasner admitting he was blindsided by the timing.
Marc Guehi did little to calm transfer links to Liverpool after Crystal Palace's 1-0 victory over Fredrikstad on Thursday night. The 25-year-old England defender, who has just under a year left on his current deal, is valued at around £45 million by the south London club. But with Guehi potentially walking away for nothing next summer, the Premier League champions are determined not to overpay.
Manchester United’s academy has seen its fair share of special talents, but even by their lofty standards, Joseph Junior “JJ” Gabriel is breaking the mould as Ruben Amorim called the 14-year-old "Kid Messi" into first-team training at Carrington. The London-born forward earned the nickname since he first lit up YouTube clips five years ago, dazzling with mazy dribbles and outrageous goals.
Enzo Maresca fired a warning to Estevao Willian as Chelsea fans clamour to see the £29 million ($39m) wonderkid start matches. The 18-year-old Brazilian made his competitive debut for the club in Sunday’s 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace and earned praise for his impressive cameo from the right-wing. However, Maresca, while acknowledging the teenager’s promise, is resisting the temptation to rush him.
Wayne Rooney has revealed how he ended up partying with Liverpool boss Arne Slot despite his allegiance to Manchester United & Everton. This remarkable tale unfolded at a Calvin Harris performance on the party island of Ibiza as both Rooney and Slot found themselves at the same venue, tickets in hand, ready for a night of music.
Viktor Gyokeres has been defended by Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit after he was left "alone" by his team-mates following his disappointing Gunners debut. Despite Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford, the Swedish forward was left frustrated, failing to register a single shot on goal. His performance was a far cry from the explosive displays that saw him secure a £64 million ($86m) transfer from Sporting Lisbon, with many Gunners fans left questioning whether he could live up to his hefty price tag.
Newcastle could reportedly move for Dusan Vlahovic as Juventus hope for a late summer bid amid the ongoing Alexander Isak saga. The Serie A giants are reportedly keen to offload the Serbian striker, hoping to balance their financial books with a €38 million (£33m/$44m) sale.
Enzo Maresca has admitted that Cole Palmer has been carrying the injury that forced him out of Chelsea's thumping victory over West Ham for some time. In a dramatic pre-match twist, the England international was removed from the Blues' starting line-up just moments before kick-off. After the game, the head coach revealed that Palmer was dealing with a groin issue that had been bothering him in the lead up to the Premier League fixture.