Incoming Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has set his sights on Real Sociedad goal keeper Geronimo Rulli as an alternative to Claudio Bravo.
According to a report by AS, Guardiola is keen on bringing the young Argentine to the Etihad stadium in the summer if a move for his first choice keeper Claudio Bravo falls through. The incoming boss is keen on giving competition to Joe Hart from next season as he looks to establish City as a European force.
The report states that Willy Caballero doesn’t feature in Guardiola’s plans for the future. Guardiola’s first choice, Claudio Bravo, has established himself as Barcelona’s first choice keeper in the league and if a move for the 33 year old keeper fails, the young Geronimo Rulli is next on Guardiola’s list.
Rulli has stated that he is happy staying at the Anoeta but has also mentioned that his future isn’t in his control. Sociedad are expect to bid for the young keeper come the end of the season, but are likely to be outbid by English giants Manchester City, who according to the report, also own a part of CD Maldonado. Rulli’s compatriot and city’s current second choice keeper Willy Caballero is reported to be keen on a move away from Manchester in order to find playing time.
The Rise of Rulli
Rulli’s playing rights are owned by a private inversion fund, who also own Deportivo Maldonado. In the summer of 2015, the Txuriurdin tried to include a first option clause, but that fell through and they only extended his contract for another year.
The 23 year old has grown into a fine young shot stopper at Real Sociedad ever since making a move to La Real on loan from Deportivo Maldonado. Rulli joined from the Uruguayan club on a one year deal which was later extended in 2015. Rulli’s agility and his eye for reading the game are his main strengths. He’s extremely quick of his line and at 6’2 he may be the tallest keeper around, but that hasn’t stopped him from being extremely good in the air. But all of these requisites aside, it is his ability to pick out a pass with both his feet equally well that stands out, and it that which has caught Guardiola’s eye.
