Arsenal's loss is Sevilla's gain as star talent scout Monchi snubs Unai Emery reunion to return home

Ben Hayward19 March 2019

There will be no reunion between Monchi and Unai Emery at Arsenal. The north London club had hoped to pair the sporting director with his former right-hand man, but after leaving Roma, the 50-year-old has returned 'home' to Sevilla instead.

Monchi, whose real name is Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo, was wanted by head of football Raul Sanllehi to oversee a the club's recruitment alongside Emery, with whom he worked successfully for three seasons at the Sanchez Pizjuan.

But the sporting director opted for a return to his club and was unveiled in a press conference on Monday.

"I am grateful to Arsenal," he said. "They pushed harder than any other club, but Sevilla satisfied the necessary conditions for me to make my decision."

A former Sevilla goalkeeper, Monchi became the Spanish side's sporting director when he retired in 2000 and stayed at the club for 17 years, playing a pivotal part in the most successful period in their history.

In that time, the Andalusians claimed five Europa League crowns (two of which as the old UEFA Cup), two Copas del Rey, a Spanish Supercopa and a European Super Cup, while they have also qualified for the Champions League on a number of occasions.

Monchi made 151 signings in those 17 years and there were numerous success stories among them, including Dani Alves, Ever Banega, Carlos Bacca, Ivan Rakitic, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Aleix Vidal, Seydou Keita, Julio Baptista, Frederic Kanoute and Clement Lenglet.

He also developed a strong relationship with Emery and together, the two men led Sevilla to three consecutive Europa League titles between 2014 and 2016. There will be no link-up in London, though, and Arsenal will have to look elsewhere for a sporting director, with their former player Marc Overmars also now unlikely to arrive after signing a new deal with Ajax.

Back at the Sanchez Pizjuan, Monchi said he was happy to be back.

"When the president (Jose Castro) called me, I wanted to know what they wanted from me," he said. "I liked what they said and that was a base on which to build the future. If I hadn't liked it, I wouldn't be here today."

Monchi, who reportedly spends up to €2,000 on phone calls every month to keep track of a long list of talents and contacts across Europe, South America and beyond, says he wants to take Sevilla to a new level.

"Sevilla has installed itself in the elite and we need to be ambitious," he said. "The important thing is to consolidate the club in that elite and to be forward-thinking in areas that are less developed in football. The president has said that Sevilla will invest in many areas. The club wants to grow and that is important."

One of his big tasks, as well as bringing in new players, may be to find a new coach in the summer after Sevilla sacked Pablo Machin last week and appointed previous sporting director Joaquin Caparros until the end of the season, although the 50-year-old did not rule out sticking with the experienced Spaniard.

"What comes, will come," he said. "But we have a magnificent coach right now, with 500 games in La Liga and plenty of experience. I have spoken to Joaquin twice and I want to listen to his ideas. He has the most important thing to be Sevilla coach, in that he is in the position right now."

After a difficult spell at Roma, where he admitted he made "a rookie mistake" by joining "without knowing fully the situation" of the club, Monchi returns home and he aims to make his second spell even better than his first.

"A lot of people have said to me that second parts are never as good, but I have decided to be here," he said. "The Godfather II was better than The Godfather I..."

It was an amusing sound bite, but Monchi is akin to a godfather figure at the Sanchez Pizjuan and he will assume total control of the club's project for the seasons ahead. Arsenal's loss is Sevilla's gain.

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