Villarreal recently welcomed back two World Cup winners to their squad, but it looks as if one of them will be heading off again in the future. Multiple outlets are reporting that goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli is close to agreeing a deal to head to Ajax.
The Yellow Submarine and the Dutch champions are finalising a deal that will be a minimum of €10m for Rulli, although it is not expected to rise above €15m. As per Javi Mata Gil, veteran Pepe Reina will take over as first choice for Quique Setien, with youngster Filip Jorgensen expected to back him up.
Com esteu llegint lo de @gerorulli està molt avançat i camí de poder tancar-se. Falta confirmar el montant total, però serien un mínim de 10 kilos. La primera opció seria Reina i els xiquillos.
— Javi Mata (@javimatagil) January 4, 2023
Rulli joined Villarreal in 2020 after spells at Estudiantes, Real Sociedad and Montpellier, competing with Sergio Asenjo initially. The 30-year-old won that battle definitively last season, off the back of a heroic performance in the Europa League final. Not without criticism during his time at the Yellow Submarine, he will forever be remembered for delivering their first ever major trophy with a penalty save against Manchester United. In total, he has made 80 appearances for Villarreal, conceding 71 times.
Image via Denis Doyle/Getty Images
