📝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.
Arsenal’s preparations for the upcoming season have been significantly bolstered by the return of key defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber to full training. The duo were spotted taking part in sessions ahead of the Gunners’ upcoming friendly clash against Villarreal and they are now in line to feature in the club's Premier League opener against Manchester United.
Reece James has been told that he is "worth £150m" and "better than Trent Alexander-Arnold" as the Chelsea captain bids to overcome his persistent injury woes. James has endured a tumultuous three-year spell plagued by recurring muscle and knee problems, resulting in sporadic availability. His 19 Premier League appearances for Chelsea last season marked his highest total since the 2021–22 campaign.
Al Hilal have reportedly secured a verbal agreement with Liverpool for the transfer of Darwin Nunez, as former Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi inches closer to landing one of his top summer target. Negotiations between the two clubs have concluded positively, with both sides aligning on the financial package required to facilitate the striker's move.
Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is in line for a shock return to his boyhood club after emerging as a contender for the vacant U21s head coach position. The Gunners are currently seeking a successor to Mehmet Ali, who departed the club earlier this summer to take on a senior coaching role at Brentford under newly appointed head coach Keith Andrews.
Florian Wirtz has issued his honest verdict on fellow new Liverpool signing Hugo Ekitike. The pair were adversaries during their time in Germany, but have now joined forces at Anfield in what promises to be a potent attacking partnership for the Reds.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has praised his side’s defensive discipline following back-to-back friendly wins over Athletic Club at Anfield on Monday, but admitted there's still a major issue that needs fixing ahead of their Community Shield clash with Crystal Palace. The Reds secured a 4-1 win with a largely rotated squad in the first game against Athletic Club and followed that up with a 3-2 victory in the second, where a more senior line-up was deployed.
Harry Maguire has warned his Manchester United team-mates that there can be "no excuses" heading into the 2025-26 campaign after a strong pre-season under Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils fell to a shocking 15th-place finish in the Premier League last term, their lowest position in over half a century, marking one of the darkest chapters in the club’s storied history.
Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw has officially been handed Manchester City Women’s iconic No.9 shirt, which is worn by Erling Haaland for the men's team, as she prepares for the 2025-26 season. The prolific Jamaican forward, who has worn number 21 since joining City in the summer of 2021, will now carry a shirt number steeped in the club’s history.
Manchester United are reportedly plotting a "last-minute gamble" on an alternative option in case their pursuit of Benjamin Sesko fails. While the Slovenian remains the preferred choice, United are said to be exploring contingency options as the clock ticks down on their summer business. The Red Devils are determined to bring in a new No.9 to complete Ruben Amorim's attack for the new season.
Former Blackburn Women's star Kelsie Burrows has been hit with a 16-match suspension for an alleged assault on a match official. Burrows was shown a red card after Cliftonville Women secured a 2-0 victory over Glentoran Women on July 25.
Monaco are planning to delay Paul Pogba's debut until October as the ex-Manchester United star continues to work on his fitness. The 32-year-old, who signed with the Ligue 1 side on a free transfer earlier this summer, has not featured in a professional match since September 2023.
Manchester City are reportedly preparing to table a bumper new contract offer for their midfield linchpin, Rodri, as part of a strategic effort to fend off Real Madrid’s sustained interest. City see this new deal as pivotal to retaining one of Pep Guardiola’s most essential players, who is in line to become the second best paid player at the club after Erling Haaland.
Barcelona have opened disciplinary proceedings against Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who has reportedly declined to authorize the club to share the details of his recent lower back surgery and recovery timeline with La Liga's medical commission. This has effectively stalled Barcelona's efforts to classify his injury as long-term, which would have allowed them to temporarily offload 80 per cent of his salary from their wage bill and register a new player.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure at Besiktas is reportedly on shaky ground, with mounting pressure from within the club possibly leading to an early dismissal. Despite being appointed only in January 2025, the Norwegian manager is believed to be on the verge of being replaced as the Turkish giants reassess their managerial direction.
Mason Greenwood extended his impressive run of form by adding another goal to his growing pre-season tally as Marseille secured a 1-1 draw with Spanish outfit Sevilla at the Stade Vélodrome. The 23-year-old forward found the net with a clever, stooping header after meeting a perfectly delivered cross from the left flank by Ulisses Garcia.
Rasmus Hojlund has made it clear to Manchester United officials that he has no intention of leaving Old Trafford for RB Leipzig, according to reports from talkSPORT. Despite interest from the Bundesliga club, the Danish striker has informed the Red Devils that a move to Germany is not on his agenda.
Franco Mastantuono has been tipped to succeed Lionel Messi as Argentina’s next No. 10 as Daniel Brizuela, the former head of scouting for River Plate, believes that the Real Madrid star has "Zidane-esque qualities". Unsurprisingly, some of Europe’s biggest clubs were circling as he turned 17. Paris Saint-Germain were among those reportedly eager to secure Mastantuono’s signature, but ultimately Real Madrid's persistence paid off.
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim gave his verdict on the current batch of goalkeepers at Old Trafford amid sustained interest in Argentine star Emiliano Martinez. The Red Devils recently approached Aston Villa with a proposal to secure Martinez on loan, but the inquiry was swiftly turned down by the Midlands outfit.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has put the brakes on discussions regarding a contract extension, sparking growing uncertainty about his long-term future in the Spanish capital. The Brazilian has less than two years remaining on his current deal, and at this stage, his representatives have decided to step away from the negotiating table entirely, at least for the foreseeable future.
Harry Kane is "delighted" to play alongside Luis Diaz after the Liverpool star made his debut against Lyon on Saturday. Despite the game not being a flawless introduction for Díaz, the Colombian international displayed flashes of his talent that have already impressed the English forward.