Gerónimo Rulli Returns to Manchester City: A Second Chance
Gerónimo Rulli has completed a return to Manchester City, signing a two-year deal worth £2 million from Marseille to provide experienced cover behind first-choice goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The Argentine, capped eight times by his country and part of the squad that lifted the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022, will stay at the Etihad until 2028 and is expected to operate as understudy to the Italian.
A different kind of second chance
This is not Rulli’s first spell as a City player. He spent the 2016-17 season on the club’s books without playing a single competitive minute. Back then, he was a name on the squad list. This time, he arrives as a proven winner.
The 32-year-old carved out his reputation in Europe with Ajax and Villarreal, but his defining night came in Gdańsk in 2021. In the UEFA Europa League final against Manchester United, he not only converted his spot-kick in a marathon shootout, he then produced the decisive save to seal the trophy for Villarreal. A goalkeeper who scores, then wins it. That sticks.
Now he walks into a dressing room built on relentless standards, and he knows exactly what he is stepping into.
“This is an amazing opportunity for me – and one I had to grasp,” Rulli said. “When the chance to join Manchester City comes along you have to go for it. Everyone knows what an impressive club this is. City's success over a long time has been impressive. Everyone I have spoken to about City said I had to join them because they are a club with incredibly high standards.
“Every professional wants to be in a high-performance environment and I can't wait to get started because I know I will improve and learn, which is always my main priority. My job now is to train hard, get to know the players and staff and do everything I can to reach my best level.”
Depth behind Donnarumma
City’s goalkeeping department now has a distinctly heavyweight feel. Donnarumma remains the undisputed No. 1, but Rulli’s arrival, alongside Marcus Bettinelli, gives the club a trio that blends star power, experience and reliability.
For a side competing on multiple fronts every season, that depth is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Rulli has seen enough of the elite game to understand that his role will demand patience, sharpness and the ability to step in cold and deliver.
Football Director Hugo Viana underlined exactly why City moved for him.
“It's a pleasure to welcome Gerónimo back to the Club. The experience he brings is obvious – he has played at the very highest level for many years.
“I have been really impressed by him during our conversations, a strong desire to join us. It's clear we are getting a brilliant professional, as well as a top 'keeper.
“Everyone at City is looking forward to welcoming him back to the Club. The qualities he will bring are ones we need, and together with Gigio and Marcus [Bettinelli] make a great team. Our goalkeeper coaches are really happy with the group.”
From Gdańsk to the Etihad
Rulli’s journey from Europa League hero with Villarreal to World Cup winner with Argentina and now back to Manchester speaks to a career built on resilience. He has operated in pressure-cooker environments, lived through long European nights, and stood on the line with trophies at stake.
Now comes a different challenge: pushing Donnarumma every day, protecting City’s standards in training, and being ready when his number is called.
For a club obsessed with marginal gains, a World Cup-winning goalkeeper as backup is a powerful statement. The real question is not whether Rulli will play, but how big an impact he can make in the moments that matter.
