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. 

âšœMy 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. Chelsea to be handed special UEFA award for completing ‘European set’

    Chelsea are set to receive a special award from UEFA just before the Champions League draw in honour of completing a 'European set'. With their triumph over Real Betis in the Conference League final last season, the Blues became the first club in history to win every single UEFA club competition. They have now won the Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and the Conference League.

  2. Christopher Nkunku Chelsea 2025

    AC Milan join race to sign forgotten Chelsea forward Nkunku

    AC Milan have joined the race to sign Chelsea outcast Christopher Nkunku before the summer transfer window closes. The Serie A giants have contacted the Blues to discuss a potential deal for the forgotten Frenchman, who has struggled for game time at Stamford Bridge since Enzo Maresca took charge of the club last summer. Nkunku is open to a move away from the Blues.

  3. Tottenham to hijack Chelsea's Xavi Simons deal?

    Tottenham Hotspur are hoping to hijack Chelsea's move for Xavi Simons after missing out on signing Eberechi Eze, who joined their arch-rivals Arsenal. The Blues have been interested in Simons for quite some time now, while the Dutch international is also keen on moving to Stamford Bridge. However, with Chelsea also showing interest in Fermin Lopez, Spurs could swoop in and secure Simons' transfer.

  1. Messi yet to decide if he will play for Argentina at World Cup

    Lionel Messi is yet to decide on whether to represent the Argentina national team at the 2026 World Cup in North America, amid his fitness concerns at Inter Miami. Lately, the World Cup-winning Argentina captain has been struggling with injuries, having missed the club's previous two matches and clocking just 45 minutes on the pitch in his last five outings.

  2. Arsenal cancel private jet lined up for sale amid Hincapie talks

    Arsenal had to cancel a private jet that was lined up for Jakub Kiwior to travel to Porto to finalise his ÂŁ22.5 million move to the Portuguese club. The Gunners are yet to agree on a deal with Bayer Leverkusen over the transfer of Piero Hincapie, despite the player agreeing personal terms. The Premier League giants won't be able to sanction Kiwior's transfer unless Hincapie's move is sealed.

  3. Chelsea prepare for 'bitter' war with Liverpool over Ngumoha

    Liverpool and Chelsea are set to be entangled in a 'bitter' legal war over Reds sensation Rio Ngumoha. The teenager, who turns 17 this Friday, left the Blues' academy last year and joined Liverpool's youth system. The youngster has made rapid improvement in his game and on Monday night, he turned hero for the Premier League champions by scoring a late winner against Newcastle United.

  4. Real Madrid enter race for Mainoo amid Man Utd standoff

    Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are among a host of clubs who have shown interest in signing out-of-favour Manchester United midfieder Kobbie Mainoo. The United youth product lost his place in Ruben Amorim's since returning from an injury last December. In the 2025-26 campaign, the England international is yet to play a single minute in their first two matches against Arsenal and Fulham.

  5. Palmer absent from training amid injury scare

    Cole Palmer did not attend Chelsea training on Tuesday as he continues to recover from a groin injury. In a dramatic twist ahead of the Blues' clash against West Ham last week, he was removed from the starting line-up just moments before kick-off. Enzo Maresca later admitted that the England international has been carrying the injury for quite some time.

  6. Real recognise real! Dowman lauds Ngumoha as 'the best'

    Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman hailed Rio Ngumoha as "the best" after the Liverpool sensation's last-gasp winner against Newcastle United on Monday. Ngumoha stole the limelight at St James' Park with a brilliant strike to become the youngest Liverpool scorer in Premier League history. Two days earlier, Dowman became the second-youngest player to represent the Gunners in the English top flight.