Manchester City are being linked with a move for Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.
The Citizens are on the lookout for another goalkeeper with James Trafford set to move to Leeds United on a permanent deal. Although the deal is yet to be announced, it would leave Man City with just Gianluigi Donnarumma and Marcus Bettinelli as their goalkeeping options.
According to the reports, Rulli is being viewed as a replacement for Trafford as Donnarumma’s backup. And Bettinelli will remain third-choice, filling up a crucial homegrown spot.
But could Rulli challenge Donnarumma for Man City’s No.1 spot?
Rulli vs Donnarumma compared:
Shot-stopping
Rulli and Donnarumma played in two completely different teams last season. Man City had the second-best defence in the Premier League, conceding 35 goals. Marseille, meanwhile, conceded 45 goals in Ligue 1, ranking fifth in the league. So Rulli was the busier goalkeeper, and it showed in the stats.
Rulli averaged 2.7 saves per 90 minutes in Ligue 1 last season, more than Donnarumma’s 2.3 per 90. He also edged out his potential new teammate for saves from shots inside the box and outside the box. Rulli and Donnarumma had similar numbers for saves from shots inside the box too, which is good news for Man City. This all came while Rulli averaged 10.3 shots on targets faced per 90, compared to Donnarumma’s 9.6 per 90.
However, Donnarumma was more reliable. The key stat here is the save percentage. While Rulli made more saves, Donnarumma saved a higher portion of the shots on target he faced, at 72.9%. Although Rulli’s 69.09% isn’t too bad, it is still slightly weaker than Donnarumma. And Donnarumma also kept more clean sheets per 90 (0.5 to 0.30) and conceded fewer goals (0.9 to 1.2). So there isn’t really a need for a change in this regard.
Distribution
Passing and composure on the ball are growing in importance among goalkeeping metrics. Managers want goalkeepers to be able to the first line of their possession and be a constant option when the defence is in danger. It’s particularly important for Man City and Enzo Maresca.
And this is where Donnarumma’s position might be most in trouble. Rulli was more involved on the ball at Marseille last season, averaging 41.8 touches per 90 in Ligue 1 compared to Donnarumma’s 34.3 for Man City. The Argentinian also attempted and completed more passes per 90, with 30.7 and 24.6 respectively. Donnarumma attempted 26 passes per 90 and completed 20.9. Although Donnarumma was more accurate in his passes, completing 80.39% to 80.11%, it’s small enough to not count too much in his favour.
It’s a similar story for the goalkeepers’ long passing. Rulli attempted 10.3 long passes per 90, completing 4.5. While Man City will be more about the short-passing and keeping possession, Maresca had success at Chelsea when sending the ball long. He exploited Paris Saint-Germain’s defence in the Club World Cup final through Robert Sanchez’s long distribution. It does also provide good relief from pressure. Donnarumma attempted 8.8 long passes per 90 for Man City last season, completing 3.9. Again he had the better accuracy, but only just.
Reliability
Outside of the standard goalkeeping metrics and passing, there are also some instances where goalkeepers can be tested. Donnarumma was at fault for some of the goals Man City conceded last season, and not just on shots he perhaps should have saved. Donnarumma committed two errors leading to goals in the Premier League last season, from five errors leading to shots. Rulli made four errors leading to shots in Ligue 1, with one leading to a goal.
And what about when knockout games go to penalties?
Rulli faced nine penalties across all competitions for Marseille last season, and he only saved one. That came against Charles De Ketelaere in the Champions League group stage, in what ended up being a 1-0 defeat to Atalanta. Throughout his career, Rulli has saved 15 of the 63 penalties he has faced in matches. In shootouts, Rulli has saved three of the 25 penalties he’s faced for club and country. He notably scored and saved David de Gea’s penalty in Villarreal‘s Europa League Final win over Manchester United in 2021.
Donnarumma, meanwhile, did save two of the four penalties he faced across all competitions last season. The Italian saved his only spot-kick faced in the Premier League against Leeds United‘s Lukas Nmecha, but the German did score on the rebound. Donnarumma did deny Vinicius Jr in Man City’s Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid, having conceded to the Brazilian from the spot in the first. Overall, Donnarumma has saved 17 of the 62 in-game penalties he’s faced, slightly beating Rulli. And he’s saved seven of 35 penalties in shootouts, including to in the final to help Italy win Euro 2020.