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. Antonio admits being 'shocked to my core' over Jota's death

    Former West Ham star Michail Antonio admitted that he was left shell-shocked after hearing about Liverpool forward Diogo Jota's death last month. The Portuguese forward, along with his brother Andre Silva, was on his way back to England to join the Reds' pre-season camp when their car crashed, killing the siblings tragically. Just months before Jota's incident, Antonio was himself involved in an accident.

  2. Hojlund x Kane?! Bayern Munich offered Man Utd flop

    Manchester United have reportedly offered their out-of-favour striker Rasmus Hojlund on loan to German champions Bayern Munich as they look to offload the £72m flop this summer. Hojlund has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford to end his nightmare spell with the Red Devils. It was earlier reported that Serie A giants AC Milan are also keen on signing the Danish forward.

  3. Everton announce loan signing of Grealish

    Everton have secured a season-long loan move for Manchester City outcast Jack Grealish. The England international, who fell out of favour at City under Pep Guardiola, will now get an opportunity to redeem his career with regular game time under David Moyes. Grealish's loan deal to the Toffees will also include a purchase option set at round £50 million ($67m).

  4. Marcos Rojo forced to change name at new club for petty reason

    Former Manchester United and Argentina defender Marcos Rojo has been forced to drop his name from the back of his shirt at his new club due to a hilarious rivalry reason. Rojo left Argentine giants Boca Juniors this summer after his contract was ripped up by the club. He switched to fellow top division side Racing Club as a free agent, but he won't be able to display his full name on his new kit.

  5. Bale admits he would 'love' to lead Cardiff takeover

    A Gareth Bale-led consortium continues to remain interested in buying Welsh giants Cardiff City from current owner Vincent Tan, who is under pressure to sell the club due to their struggles in League One. Bale and his partners saw their initial bid worth £40 million ($54m) knocked back by Tan, although the group later came back with a new and improved offer.

  6. Fermin Lopez Barcelona 2025

    Lopez rejects PL transfer speculation to stay at Barcelona

    Barcelona sensation Fermin Lopez has assured fans he will stay at the club beyond this summer, despite strong interest from Premier League giants like Chelsea and Manchester United. Lopez starred in Barcelona's thumping win over Como in the Joan Gamper Trophy on Sunday as the Catalan giants ended their pre-season preparations on a high.

  1. Pedro dismisses worries over Chelsea competition with Delap

    New Chelsea forward Joao Pedro claims he is not losing sleep over competition with fellow new signing Liam Delap for a starting lineup slot at No.9. The forward duo are part of a big group of players who moved to Stamford Bridge this summer after Enzo Maresca decided to rebuild his team ahead of the Blues' return to the Champions League this season.

  2. Saka donates over 1,000 uniforms to children at four schools

    In a heartwarming gesture, Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has donated over 1,000 uniforms to four schools in Ealing, including Edward Betham and Greenford High, which he attended as a kid. Saka was born and bred in Ealing and he wanted to give back to the people where he grew up. The England international visited the schools in person to hand over the uniforms to the students.

  3. Rooney to feature as pundit in first MOTD of post-Lineker era

    Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney is set to feature as a pundit in the season's first BBC Match of the Day programme this Saturday in the post-Gary Lineker. Lineker announced last year he would be stepping down as presenter of Match of the Day when the 2024-25 Premier League campaign ended. Former understudy Mark Chapman is one of three presenters who will host the show moving forward.

  4. Van Dijk opens up on Liverpool's defensive struggles

    Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk addressed the club's defensive woes as Crystal Palace twice came from behind to beat the Reds and lift the Community Shield on Sunday. Van Dijk admitted there have been problems in the backline that need to be resolved and urged his colleagues to regain last season's defensive form, where the champions conceded 41 league goals.

  5. Arteta claims Gyokeres will 'destroy' defences

    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta heaped praise on new signing Viktor Gyokeres, who scored his first goal for the Gunners since his move to North London from Sporting CP this summer. The Premier League giants thrashed La Liga side Athletic Club 3-0 in their final pre-season friendly courtesy of goals from Gyokeres, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz.

  6. Liverpool confirm that Nunez has completed move to Al-Hilal

    Liverpool have confirmed that star striker Darwin Nunez has completed his transfer to Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal. Nunez, who was linked with a move away from Anfield since the start of the summer transfer window, has secured a permanent move to Saudi Arabia. The Uruguayan forward, who joined the Reds in 2023 from Benfica for a whopping £64 million ($86m), spent just three years at the Merseyside club.

  7. Howe suggests Isak WILL be allowed to leave

    Eddie Howe provided an update on Alexander Isak's future at St James' Park as he hinted that Newcastle United could allow the striker to leave this summer, amid strong interest from Liverpool. Isak has been training alone and was even left out of a club event earlier this week after he strongly expressed his desire to leave the Magpies and secure a transfer to Anfield.