📝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.
Kobbie Mainoo reportedly has a new best friend at Manchester United after the academy star was forced to find new mates following Alejandro Garnacho's exit. United’s dressing room dynamics have shifted again, and it’s Mainoo who has had to adapt. The 19-year-old midfielder, once inseparable from Garnacho, has found himself forging a fresh bond after his best mate departed Old Trafford last month.
Daniel Levy has been defended from criticism from Tottenham fans by his former player Eric Dier following his removal from the chairman position. The Lewis family, who control the club, moved to sack Levy earlier this month, handing the reins to Peter Charrington as non-executive chairman. Insiders hailed the move as the dawn of a 'new era' for Spurs.
West Ham have been told they should consider Frank Lampard as Graham Potter's replacement despite his poor relations with the club and its fans. The Hammers find themselves in crisis following a dismal start to the Premier League season. They have lost four of their opening five games, with last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace piling more pressure on the under-fire manager.
Erling Haaland has been told about two factors that will determine if he will go down as the Premier League's greatest-ever striker. Haaland has begun the 2025/26 season like a man possessed, terrorizing defences with seven goals in six appearances across all competitions. Highlights include dismantling Manchester United, smashing a Champions League record with a header against Napoli, and striking against Arsenal before sitting out against Huddersfield with a minor injury.
Hugo Ekitike has not been fined by Liverpool for a "stupid" red card as Arne Slot claimed that the striker is "allowed to make a mistake". The French forward, who came off the bench to score the decisive goal in Tuesday's 2-1 win against Southampton, was sent off just moments after taking off his shirt in celebration, earning a second booking having already picked up a yellow card.
Phil Foden's return to form has been explained by Pep Guardiola as the Manchester City star looks to bounce back from a quiet season. After a frustrating 2024-25 campaign where his output dried up, the academy jewel has rediscovered the sparkle that once made him the Premier League's Player of the Year. City's No. 47 is no longer drifting but he's dictating again.
Florian Wirtz made a surprise pick when asked to name a Liverpool team-mate who has impressed him most since his £117 million move from Bayer Leverkusen. The German playmaker, who lit up the Bundesliga with 57 goals and 62 assists in 197 outings, was the heartbeat of Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side that stormed to a historic unbeaten title in 2023-24.
Ally McCoist has warned Rangers boss Russell Martin that he's "in big trouble" as the Ibrox crowd continues to rally against the under-fire manager. Their Europa League adventure got off to a nightmare start with a drab 1-0 loss to Genk, and the home crowd made it brutally clear they've had enough of Martin in charge. It was another chaotic night that included a VAR controversy, a red card, and the killer blow delivered by none other than a former Celtic striker.
Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor revealed an outrageous question she has been forced to answer that other clubs would "never ask" a man. Despite steering the Blues to a historic domestic treble last season, the Frenchwoman says people still question whether she can balance being a mother of four with leading one of the biggest clubs in women's football.
Savinho has reportedly agreed to a new contract at Manchester City, with Tottenham dealt a massive transfer blow. The north London club had tried to sign the forward in the summer and were thinking of returning for him in January but those hopes are now dead in the water. Spurs had tabled discussions confident that the 21-year-old winger's head could be turned, but City slammed the door shut, insisting the Brazilian was not for sale.
Manchester United great Rio Ferdinand has put his cards on the table, ranking the Premier League’s top defenders in a no-nonsense knockout showdown, and his verdicts will spark plenty of debate. In a high-energy Q&A with GOAL, the former England skipper was asked to play “winner stays on” with some of the league’s biggest centre-back names.
Christian Norgaard has opened up on his Arsenal "frustration" after making his first start following an injury return. The 31-year-old Dane, who swapped Brentford for the Emirates in a £10 million ($13m) summer move, had to endure a stuttering beginning to life in north London after suffering a knee problem on the eve of the season.
Bayern Munich reportedly launched a shock summer swoop to sign Raheem Sterling but the Chelsea misfit rejected the Bavarians. The Bundesliga champions made their move late in the window, with Vincent Kompany eager to link up with his former Manchester City teammate. But despite Bayern offering the lure of trophies and Champions League nights, Sterling gave them a flat rejection.
Chichester City have been forced to postpone their game as a former Arsenal youngster, Billy Vigar, had to be placed in an induced coma after a horror head injury. The forward collapsed after a brutal collision with a pitchside surface just 15 minutes into their clash against Wingate and Finchley.
Manchester United had reportedly "put €30 million (£26m/$35m) on the table" to sign Brazilian goalkeeper Kaua Santos in the summer before landing Belgian star Senne Lammens. The club had been tracking the 23-year-old for over a year and even reignited talks late in the window. But Frankfurt stood firm. The Bundesliga side made it crystal clear they had no intention of losing their prized shot-stopper and Santos himself opted to stay put.
Juventus star Gleison Bremer is reportedly being monitored by both Liverpool and Manchester United ahead of the January window with the pair aware of a €55 million (£48m/$65m) release clause. While Juventus are keen to keep hold of Bremer, Premier League sides could potentially secure his signature by offering between €70-80 million (£61m/$82m-£70m/94m), according to Italian outlet Tutto Juve. The race is heating up as Europe’s elite monitor one of Serie A’s standout defenders.
Jurgen Klopp's former assistant Peter Krawietz hit back at criticism of the former Liverpool manager's decision to join the Red Bull group as head of global soccer. The announcement stunned supporters after the former Reds boss left the dugout to head upstairs and take a strategic role at the German club.
Arsenal could reportedly launch a mega Kenan Yildiz swoop as the Gunners have been linked with a €60 million (£52m/$70m) swap deal to sign the Juventus ace. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder has been on fire for the Old Lady this term. With two goals and four assists in just five appearances, Yildiz has rocketed to the top of Juve’s list of untouchables.
Bayern Munich reportedly "hope" that Tottenham will complete a permanent deal for Joao Palhinha, who does not feature in Vincent Kompany's plans. The Portuguese midfielder arrived in Germany from Fulham with high hopes, but his time under the Belgian manager has been nothing short of a disaster. Out of favour and out of his Kompany's plans, Bayern now want rid, and Spurs could be the perfect escape route.
Manchester United are once again dipping into the South American talent pool, this time with the capture of Colombian prodigy Cristian Orozco. Reports in Colombia suggest the Red Devils have thrashed out a deal with Fortaleza CEIF, the teenager’s current side, as Ruben Amorim continues a long-term rebuild at Old Trafford.