A decade after leaving without a senior appearance, Rulli gets his chance
Manchester City's Carabao Cup third-round tie with Norwich City tomorrow night at the Etihad Stadium is likely to hand Gerónimo Rulli a first competitive outing in City colours — nine years after he left the club without one.
Rulli, signed from Marseille on August 12, subject to international clearance, has been earmarked as Gianluigi Donnarumma's understudy this season. James Trafford's move to Leeds United left a gap in the goalkeeping department, and City moved quickly to fill it with an experienced Argentinian.
That Rulli is expected to start against Norwich is no great surprise. City have a long-established habit of using their backup keeper in cup competitions, and with Donnarumma firmly installed as the league option, the Carabao Cup is the obvious stage.
What makes it notable is the backstory. Rulli was on City's books during the 2016-17 season, spending that campaign on loan at Real Sociedad. He never made a senior appearance for the club, and was eventually sold to the La Liga side, where he built a career that has since taken him across Europe.
Now 34, he returns to Manchester having achieved something he had all but given up on. Speaking to mancity.com, Rulli described the move as the fulfilment of a long-held ambition.
“I feel as though the circle has closed. I’m so happy to have achieved what I always wanted: to play for this club. Even before wearing the shirt, I felt part of me belonged at Manchester City. Wearing these colours and badge gives me a joy and emotion I hadn’t felt in my career.”
Whether he gets many more opportunities beyond tomorrow night is another matter. Donnarumma is the undisputed No.1, and cup runs can be fleeting. But for one evening at least, Rulli gets the chance to wear the badge he has thought about for the best part of a decade.