Manchester City sign Gerónimo Rulli as Donnarumma's backup

Manchester City already knows who will pull on the gloves whenever Gianluigi Donnarumma needs a rest. That man is Gerónimo Rulli, the Argentine goalkeeper who arrives from Marseille after signing a two-year contract.

The move was confirmed this Wednesday and, while it's hardly a blockbuster signing, there's a story behind it. Rulli, 34, is no stranger to City: he already spent time at the club during the 2016-17 season, though he barely featured back then. Nearly a decade later, he returns with a different role and a lot more experience under his belt.

His career in Europe speaks for itself. He played for Real Sociedad, Villarreal, Montpellier and Ajax before landing at Marseille in 2024. Different leagues, different pressures, but always between the posts at a level that kept him relevant everywhere he went.

With the Argentina national team, Rulli has made eight appearances and, most notably, was part of the squad that lifted the World Cup in Qatar 2022. He wasn't the starting goalkeeper at that tournament, but being part of that championship group carries real weight in any locker room.

His arrival fills the void left by James Trafford, who departed for Leeds last week after serving as the club's backup keeper. City needed a proven replacement for Donnarumma, and found in Rulli someone who already knows what it takes to compete at a big club without always being the first choice.

The club's sporting leadership offered immediate backing. Football director Hugo Viana was full of praise for the new signing.

I was really impressed with him during our conversations, he has a huge desire to join us. It's clear we're bringing in a brilliant professional, as well as a top-level goalkeeper.Hugo Viana

That last point, the desire to come, is no small detail when we're talking about a player arriving to be a backup. Not every world-class goalkeeper willingly accepts a secondary role, but Rulli seems to have come to terms with it, and that says something about his professionalism too.

The question that remains is just how much playing time he'll actually get. With Donnarumma as the undisputed starter, Rulli will have to settle for cup duty and the occasional rotation match, but his experience and trophy case make him far more than a simple bench option for Manchester.