Manchester City have signed Gerónimo Rulli from Marseille for £2 million on a two-year contract — and the Argentine brings a CV that includes one of the more memorable moments in Europa League history.
In the 2021 final against Manchester United, Rulli scored in the penalty shootout, then saved the decisive kick to hand Villarreal the trophy. It's the kind of detail that makes a backup goalkeeper signing actually interesting.
What he's here to do
The role is clearly defined. Rulli slots in behind Gianluigi Donnarumma as the squad's second-choice stopper, with Marcus Bettinelli rounding out the group. Football Director Hugo Viana was candid about that dynamic: "Together with Gigio and Marcus, they make a great team." No ambiguity about the pecking order.
It's actually a smart bit of business. City needed cover after James Trafford left for Leeds United — for £40 million, a forty-fold return on what they just spent on Rulli — and they've landed an experienced, proven goalkeeper who knows the club. This is Rulli's second stint at the Etihad, having been on the books in 2016-17 without making a single appearance. He's not coming in blind.
At 32, he's not a project. He's a professional who has played at Champions League and international level, earned eight Argentina caps, and has a World Cup winner's medal from Qatar 2022. City's goalkeeper coaches reportedly pushed for the group — and it's easy to see why a reliable, experienced backup matters more than a cheap gamble when you're competing across four competitions.
The broader picture
Rulli himself didn't underplay it: "When the chance to join Manchester City comes along you have to go for it." That's not PR noise — it reflects a genuine decision to prioritise environment over a starting spot somewhere else, which tells you something about his mentality at this stage of his career.
For City's depth chart, this keeps things stable without breaking the bank. Donnarumma remains the clear number one, and that hierarchy won't shift — but knowing who's behind him matters. Last season demonstrated that squad quality across every position decides titles as much as the starting eleven does.
£2 million for a World Cup winner who once scored in a European final against your city rivals. There are worse ways to spend a Tuesday afternoon in the transfer market.
