Roma gave Monchi full control and he failed, says club president
Roma President James Pallotta has launched a furious broadside at transfer guru Monchi after the former sporting director hit out at the club.
Monchi left the capital club earlier this month following the dismissal of Eusebio Di Francesco and returned to Sevilla last week.
What did Monchi say about Roma? Five key things to know…
- Monchi joined Roma in April 2017.
- He oversaw the recruitment of 20 players last season, including Aleksandar Kolarov and Cengiz Under.
- Last summer, the club signed heavily again, brining in 14 players, with Justin Kluivert and Nicolo Zaniolo the pick of the bunch.
- This season, though, the club have been disappointing with a lot of Monchi’s signings failing to have an impact.
- He has since revealed the reason he left was due to a realisation “that the owners’ ideas were different to mine.”
https://audioboom.com/posts/7205446-man-utd-need-to-sign-england-s-duel-master
The 50-year-old took up his former position at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan last week, and will oversee transfer dealings when he officially takes charge on April 1.
During the press conference of his reappointment, the former goalkeeper revealed how relations broke down at Roma because his vision was at odds with that of the owner.
Giallorossi president Pallotta has now hit back at Monchi for his comments, explaining how the Spaniard’s downfall was his own making as he had “complete control” of operations.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Pallota said: “He had sole responsibility for football operations at Roma but he didn’t have a Plan B. That was November. He said his Plan B was just to keep doing the same as Plan A.
“So, if I read or listen to the radio interviews he’s giving where he says that the idea of the ownership was different to his and that is why he left, please let me know what Monchi wanted to do differently?
“He asked me to trust him and let him do it his way. We gave him complete control and now we have more injuries than we’ve ever had and are in danger of missing out on finishing in the Top 3 for the first time since 2014.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa_EdMMm-Lc
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Why Monchi rejected Arsenal
Monchi was tipped to fill the void left by Sven Mslintat in north London following the German’s sudden departure in January.
The Spaniard has previously worked alongside Arsenal manager Unai Emery during their time together with Sevilla between 2013 and 2016.
However, the Spanish club dismissed head coach, Pablo Machin, after their Europa League exit on Thursday with director of football Joaquin Caparros taking control of the first team.
As such, Los Hispalenses wasted no time in bringing Monchi back to the club, and the Spaniard has now revealed why he rejected a move to Arsenal.
“I thank Arsenal for their interest,” said Monchi.
“It has been the club that has shown the most interest in me but, in the end, I evaluated all of the offers I had on the table and I chose the one that convinced me most.
“I had other options, and very important ones that were flashier, but I’ve chosen Sevilla because its sporting project convinced me.
“I want to thank everyone that contributed to my return to what I consider to be my home.”
