Manchester City complete £12million deal for goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli – but he won’t be at the Etihad for long
MANCHESTER CITY have signed goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli for £12million.
The Argentina international joins on a long-term deal and was one of Pep Guardiola’s main transfer targets since taking over this summer.
However, Rulli won’t be sticking around at the Etihad for long, with City attempting to loan him to Real Sociedad for the upcoming La Liga campaign.
The 24-year-old has spent the last two seasons at the Spanish club from Uruguayan outfit Deportivo Maldonado, who bought the shot-stopper’s rights in 2014.
And Rulli made it clear during negotiations with City that he would prefer to return to Sociedad for his development rather than challenge current No.1 Joe Hart for a place between the sticks.
It means Willy Caballero could be set to stay for one more year in Manchester, with the veteran a firm fan favourite following his Capital One Cup heroics against Liverpool in February.
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And Rulli’s transfer could also spell the end of Guardiola’s interest in Barcelona ace Claudio Bravo.
The Chile international is currently No.1 ahead of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and the Catalans have no intention of parting ways with either keeper.
Barcelona director Robert Fernandez said: “I’ll do what it take to prevent either of them from leaving this summer.
“Our stance has not changed one bit since I last said both would continue. People speculate too much, but the fact is we have two extraordinary goalkeepers under contract.”
Rulli could soon be joined by two other new faces at the Etihad, with City chasing a deal to land Leicester ace and PFA Player of the Year Riyad Mahrez.
Everton’s John Stones is also on Guardiola’s radar, and a deal could be close after the England international was snapped shopping in Manchester city centre on Monday afternoon.