RULLI IS BACK! City Complete Stunning £1.7m Raid On Marseille
Nine years after leaving Manchester without kicking a ball, Gerónimo Rulli is back at the Etihad — and this time he’s got a World Cup winner’s medal to show for it.
Manchester City have wrapped up a shrewd piece of business, confirming the signing of Argentine goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli from Marseille for a bargain £1.7 million. The 34-year-old has put pen to paper on a two-year deal that runs until June 2028.
From Forgotten Man To World Champion
Back in 2016/17, Rulli was just another name in City’s squad list — signed, kitted out, and never once trusted between the sticks. He was shipped out on loan to Real Sociedad without a single first-team appearance to his name.
Fast forward nine years and he returns a completely different animal: a World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022, a Copa América champion in 2024, and the man who broke Manchester United hearts in Manchester itself — sinking the winning penalty and saving David de Gea’s spot-kick in Villarreal’s marathon 2021 Europa League final shootout win.
Filling Trafford’s Boots
The move comes hot on the heels of James Trafford’s £40m switch to Leeds United, and City wasted no time lining up his replacement. Rulli won’t be challenging for the No.1 jersey, though — that belongs firmly to Gianluigi Donnarumma. Instead, he arrives as experienced cover, adding steel and know-how to a goalkeeping room that also includes Marcus Bettinelli.
Director of football Hugo Viana didn’t hold back in his welcome, hailing Rulli’s “brilliant professional” qualities and the experience he brings from “the very highest level.”
