Marcus Bettinelli

Key strength: Shot-stopping

Shot-stopper

At 33 years old, Marcus Bettinelli finds himself in one of football's most paradoxical positions: wearing the sky blue of Manchester City while sitting 2nd in the Premier League table, yet remaining entirely absent from the pitch. The English goalkeeper, who arrived on a one-year deal in June 2025, has made zero appearances this season—an understandable reality when competing with the world-class Gianluigi Donnarumma and Germany's Stefan Ortega for minutes. Yet Bettinelli's value to Pep Guardiola's squad extends far beyond his €600,000 market value. Standing at 193cm, the former Fulham academy graduate brings Premier League experience and reliable distribution to training sessions, pushing City's elite keepers daily. When called upon, he'd be protected by defensive stalwarts Rúben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and Nathan Aké. For a player who once commanded regular top-flight football, this represents a different chapter—the experienced professional content to serve as emergency cover while City chase silverware across multiple fronts. His contract runs until June 2026, but his true contribution lies in the unseen: maintaining standards, sharing wisdom, and ensuring City's goalkeeping department never drops its intensity.