“Man City prepares surprising return of Geronimo Rulli.”

Manchester City is in negotiations to recruit Gerónimo Rulli, an Argentine goalkeeper, as a replacement for James Trafford, who is set to transfer to Leeds United. The Premier League champions are acting quickly to secure an experienced new option in goal before the start of the new season.

Fabrizio Romano, a transfer specialist, confirmed that Manchester City's interest in Rulli is serious. On his profile on the social media platform X, Romano wrote: “EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City wants Gerónimo Rulli as the new backup goalkeeper to replace James Trafford. The Argentine goalkeeper is understood to be interested in the move; Olympique de Marseille is aware of the interest, #MCFC is on it.”

With Trafford's imminent departure, the club's priority is to find a high-quality goalkeeper. Rulli's willingness to return to City provides a significant advantage in negotiations with Marseille, where the goalkeeper has been since leaving English football.

The possible transfer of Rulli represents a moment of great symbolism in his career. The goalkeeper joined Manchester City from Deportivo Maldonado in the summer of 2016, following a standout loan spell at Real Sociedad. However, despite arriving shortly after Pep Guardiola took charge, Rulli never made a competitive appearance for the team. Instead, he was immediately loaned back to Real Sociedad as part of a pre-established agreement, allowing him to continue his development in La Liga. In January 2017, Real Sociedad formalized the permanent transfer of the goalkeeper, ending his brief stint at City before it even began.

Since leaving England, the 34-year-old Rulli has built an impressive resume, with stints at clubs such as Real Sociedad, Villarreal, Ajax, and Marseille, winning significant titles, including the UEFA Europa League and the World Cup with Argentina. Now, nearly a decade after his initial arrival, Manchester City is actively working to bring Rulli back to the club, in an attempt to finalize what was left undone previously.

The next phase of negotiations will determine whether Rulli will indeed return to his former home, which could bring not only the necessary experience to the squad but also a significant morale boost for the fans following the team's evolution.