City do not usually need a backup goalkeeper who is simply content to fill a bench. They need one who can step into a high-possession side, stay calm under pressure and handle distribution demands without changing the team’s rhythm.
Rulli brings that profile.
He is not the kind of signing built on projection. He is the kind built on trust.
If Rulli is arriving as Donnarumma’s understudy, the move says plenty about how City view this part of the squad. This is about depth with minimal disruption.
A younger goalkeeper might have offered resale value or long-term upside. Rulli offers something different:
That matters in a season where fixture congestion can expose even the strongest squads. A backup keeper at City may not play every week, but he still has to be ready for cup ties, rotation spells and unexpected absences.
For Marseille, losing an experienced goalkeeper appears to be part of a wider reshaping. Replacing that voice and presence is not always simple, even when a club is prepared for the move.
For City, though, the logic is straightforward: elite teams do not just build star-studded starting XIs, they protect themselves against weak spots.
The next storyline to watch is simple - when Rulli gets his first chance, and whether City’s goalkeeping order stays stable as the season begins to take shape.