MANCHESTER CITY have confirmed the shock signing of forgotten Chelsea star Marcus Bettinelli
Bettinelli, who hasn’t played in THREE years, will replace third-choice goalkeeper Scott Carson, who announced his departure this week.
The 6ft 4in keeper joins from Stamford Bridge on a one-year deal worth £5million until June 2026.
Graduating from Fulham’s Academy, Bettinelli made over 100 appearances for The Cottagers’ first team – enjoying several loan spells during his decade there.
In 2021, he made the move to Chelsea and was part of the squad that won the Fifa Club World Cup that year.
Bettinelli said: “It’s an honour to sign for City. I have admired from afar what this club have achieved since Pep Guardiola arrived and now, I am excited to be a part of building on that success.
“I can’t wait to work with Pep, Xabi Mancisidor and the excellent goalkeepers already here and see their methods up close.
“Hopefully I can contribute in training, the dressing room and on the pitch as we look to win more silverware over the next year.”
Bettinelli hasn’t played a single minute of first-team football since Chelsea’s FA Cup third-round tie with Chesterfield in January 2022.
And the veteran keeper’s last Premier League appearance took place just shy of a DECADE ago.
Marcus Bettinelli hasn’t played Premier League football in nearly eight years[/caption]
Bettinelli, who was once tipped to be a fully-fledged England international, hasn’t played in the top-flight in nearly EIGHT years.
He made his last Prem appearance against Cardiff back in October 2018 while he was still plying his trade with Fulham.
And it was a nightmare of a day for the keeper as he conceded four times in a 4-2 defeat to the Bluebirds.
Bettinelli is unlikely to be thrown into first-team action barring injury to City’s first and second-choice stoppers, Ederson and Stefan Ortega.
He’ll be hoping to have similar success as City’s third-choice keeper as Carson did.
In his 11 years at the Etihad, Carson made two appearances for the club and bagged a second Champions League winners’ medal in the 2022/23 season.
He also earned a staggering amount in wages – despite only playing two games.
Bettinelli becomes City’s second signing of the summer following the arrival of Rayan Ait-Nouri.
SunSport understands that City also want AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and Lyon star Rayan Cherki on plane to the US later this week.
