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. Gyokeres' Arsenal transfer in danger of collapsing

    Viktor Gyokeres' proposed move to Arsenal could collapse amid an 'impasse' in negotiations with Sporting CP. Gunners officials have left Lisbon after failing to strike a final agreement with the Portuguese club. If the deal falls through, Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce are ready to try and sign the striker on loan.

  2. Bright opens up on decision to snub England duties for Euro 2025

    Chelsea captain Millie Bright has revealed why she chose to pull out of the England squad for the Women's Euro 2025. The experienced Lionesses defender did not travel to Switzerland with the national team as she claimed she was "mentally and physically" drained after a gruelling 2024-25 campaign with the Blues, who secured the WSL title for the seventh time in a row.

  3. Emiliano Martinez Aston Villa 2025

    Martinez receives surprise support for Chelsea transfer from France legend

    Former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has backed Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez to join the Blues this summer, claiming the Argentine could be an "inspiration" in their dressing room. Martinez appeared to bid a tearful goodbye to Aston Villa fans after their final home game of the 2024-25 campaign against Tottenham in May, though he has yet to publicly confirm he wants to leave the club.

  1. Napoli launch €55m bid for Liverpool striker Nunez

    Napoli have launched their first bid worth €55 million (£47m/$64m) for Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez as Antonio Conte looks to bolster his Serie A-winning squad. The Italian champions are considering the Uruguayan as a priority transfer target after a meeting between club owner Aurelio De Laurentiis and the player's agent Fali Ramadani.

  2. Estevao rejects chance to join up with Chelsea squad for remainder of CWC

    Chelsea-bound Estevao Willian rejected a chance to join up with Blues squad for the remainder of the Club World Cup in the US as he wanted to bid a proper goodbye to his boyhood club Palmeiras. The youngster scored in his final game for the Brazilian side against his future club but they crashed out of the competition after suffering a 2-1 defeat in the quarter-finals.

  3. Musiala undergoes successful surgery on fractured fibula

    Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala has had successful surgery on his broken left fibula, the club has confirmed. The Germany international suffered a horrific injury during Saturday's Club World Cup quarter-final clash against Paris Saint-Germain. The midfielder had to be stretchered off the pitch after a painful collision with Gianluigi Donnarumma.

  4. Marcus Rashford Manchester United 2025

    Man Utd told they have 'overburdened' Rashford

    Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha accused the Red Devils of overburdening Marcus Rashford as he backed the United outcast to shine in La Liga if Barcelona come calling. Rashford left Old Trafford in January to join Aston Villa on a short-term loan deal. The attacker is now back in Manchester but is expected to leave his boyhood club permanently.

  5. Luis Diaz Liverpool 2025

    Bayern steal a march on Barcelona in Diaz transfer pursuit

    Bayern Munich could beat Barcelona to the signing of Liverpool forward Luis Diaz this summer after the Bundesliga club struck an agreement on personal terms. Diaz is yet to negotiate a fresh deal with the English champions and has reportedly assured Bayern Munich officials that he would consider moving to Germany in the summer.