Man City agree deal to sign Marseille keeper Rulli

Manchester City have reached an agreement to sign Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli for a fee of £1.7 million. The 34-year-old Argentine player will return to the Etihad Stadium, where he previously played in the 2016-17 season but did not feature in the first team. Rulli has signed a two-year contract with the club.

Notably, Rulli scored a penalty during Villarreal's 2021 Europa League final triumph over Manchester United. He also managed to thwart David de Gea during a crucial shootout. Rulli has earned eight caps for Argentina and was a part of the teams that secured the 2022 World Cup and 2024 Copa America victories.

The Argentine goalkeeper has previously played for Real Sociedad, Montpellier, and Ajax. He has been brought in as a replacement for England goalkeeper James Trafford, who recently moved to Leeds following a deal worth up to £45 million. Rulli will serve as an understudy to the team's number one goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Manager Enzo Maresca will be the one to decide who will wear the captain's armband at Manchester City. In addition, Maresca expressed a desire to include an English player in the leadership group. The current leadership group comprises Ruben Dias, Erling Haaland, and Rodri, the latter of whom has attracted a bid from Barcelona.

Several English players, including Phil Foden, Marc Guehi, and Nico O Reilly, could potentially fill the vacant leadership role. Former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola appointed Silva as captain last season, but prior to that, a player ballot was conducted to determine the individual who would hold the armband.