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. Maresca gives brutal vedict on Chelsea's last-gasp defeat

    A disappointed Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca gave a brutal verdict after the Blues' last-gasp defeat at the hands of Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday. Alejandro Garnacho scored his maiden goal for Chelsea to give them an early lead but Sunderland bounced back, riding on Wilson Isidor's equaliser and Chemsdine Talbi's last-minute winner.

  2. Beleaguered Premier League boss given four games to save his job

    Wolves boss Vitor Pereira could become the fourth Premier League manager to be sacked in the 2025-26 campaign as the Portuguese coach has reportedly been given just four matches to prove himself. Wolves are off to a nightmare start in the new season as they have failed to register a single victory after eight rounds of matches in the Premier League and find themselves languishing at the bottom of the league table.

  3. Bayern chief sends out strong message on talk of move for Guehi

    Bayern Munich chief Max Eberl has seemingly confirmed that the club will pursue a move for Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi as the German champions look to bolster their backline. Guehi, who is in the final year of his existing deal at Selhurst Park, has been linked with a move away from the club next summer as a free agent, with clubs including Liverpool and Inter in the race to sign him.

  4. Garnacho scores first Chelsea goal & pulls out Man Utd celebration

    Alejandro Garnacho pulled out his trademark Manchester United celebration after scoring his maiden goal for Chelsea against Sunderland on Saturday. Garnacho, who joined the Blues on a permanent transfer from United in the last transfer window, took seven matches before scoring for the first time in a Chelsea shirt. Following the goal, the Argentine also emulated his idol Cristiano Ronaldo while celebrating.

  5. Maresca to hand debut to 15-year-old compared to Bellingham

    After fielding a group of teenagers in their Champions League clash against Ajax earlier this week, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is now seemingly set to hand a 15-year-old youth player his senior debut. Resting most of their first-team stars in the European clash, Maresca banked on the youth and they did not disappoint the coach as the Blues registered a thumping 5-1 win over the Dutch giants.

  6. Sheffield Wednesday docked 12 points & enter administration

    Sheffield Wednesday have been placed under administration and have been docked 12 points by the EFL, bringing Dephjon Chansiri's ruinous ownership to an end at Hillsborough. The Owls have made a nightmare start to their 2025-26 campaign as they have won just one out of their first 11 league games and are currently placed at the bottom of the Championship. With 12 points gone, their current tally now stands at -6.

  7. Slot insists Liverpool must adapt to defending 'long balls'

    Liverpool manager Arne Slot has instructed his players to adapt to dealing with "long balls" as the Reds aim to end their dismal run of form in the 2025-26 campaign. The reigning champions have lost their last three Premier League games against Crystal Palace, Chelsea, and Manchester United, as they have dropped to third position in the league table.

  8. 'Good arrogance' - Fernandes hails Man Utd's summer business

    Bruno Fernandes spoke highly of Manchester United's summer transfer business, while reserving special praise for Brazilian attacker Matheus Cunha, who moved to United from Wolves in the last window. Fernandes, being the leader of the pack at Old Trafford, named the unique qualities of each of United's new four signings as the club spent heavily to rebuild the squad under Ruben Amorim.

  9. 'We will have to wait' - Arteta reveals Gabriel injury blow

    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta provided a worrying update on star defender Gabriel's condition as the Gunners prepare for their upcoming Crystal Palace test in the Premier League. The Brazilian centre-back, who has been in red-hot form since the start of the season, was forced to leave the pitch in the second half in the club's 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League earlier this week.

  1. Porro calls out Spurs team-mates after Monaco draw

    Tottenham Hotspur star Pedro Porro was left disappointed after the club's second consecutive draw in the Champions League against AS Monaco this Wednesday, as he revealed that he called out his team-mates for a poor show, while warning them against making the situation worse in Europe. Porro has been a regular starter at the Premier League club under new manager Thomas Frank.

  2. New Rangers manager Rohl reveals special message from Flick

    New Rangers boss Danny Rohl revealed that he received a message from Barcelona manager Hansi Flick after taking charge at Ibrox Stadium. Following a long search for a new head coach, the Scottish giants zeroed in on the ex-Sheffield Wednesday manager. Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard was initially strongly linked with the job but the Englishman later pulled out of the race.

  3. Man Utd backed for shock Premier League title charge

    Manchester United have been backed for a shock Premier League title tilt as a former Red Devils coach feels that 'positive power' is finally building under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford. With their latest win at Anfield over reigning champions Liverpool, United have finally registered back-to-back victories in the Premier League for the first time since the Portuguese coach took charge of the club.

  4. Salah DROPPED for Liverpool's UCL clash with Frankfurt

    Mohamed Salah has been left out of Liverpool's starting line-up to face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday, as Arne Slot has taken action following the Premier League defeat at home to Manchester United last Sunday. Hugo Ekitike has replaced the Egyptian winger in the Reds' XI after starting on the bench against the Red Devils.

  5. Frank compares Simons to Wirtz amid playmakers' struggles

    Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank compared Xavi Simons to Liverpool's Florian Wirtz as the playmakers continue to struggle for form since swapping the Bundesliga for the Premier League in the summer. Simons left RB Leipzig to complete his move to Spurs, while Wirtz joined the Reds from former German champions Bayer Leverkusen as the Merseyside broke the British transfer record at that time.

  6. No Ronaldo, no problem! Ex-Chelsea man fires Al-Nassr past Goa

    Al-Nassr edged out FC Goa 2-1 in their third AFC Champions League Two clash in India on Wednesday. Former Chelsea man Angelo Gabriel and Haroune Camara were on target as the Saudi giants picked up a comfortable victory without their star forward Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portugal legend, along with Marcelo Brozovic, did not make the away trip to remain fresh for their upcoming Pro League clashes.

  7. 'Lazy' Rashford accused of 'letting team-mates down' at Man Utd

    A former Manchester United player has accused Marcus Rashford of being 'lazy' and 'letting his team-mates at Old Trafford down', with the forward's resurgence at Barcelona dismissed. Rashford has rediscovered himself in Catalonia this season after completing a loan move from United. He had fallen out of favour under Ruben Amorim and was included in the manager's 'bomb squad' during pre-season.