Monchi hits back at Kone

Club director Ramon Rodriguez ‘Monchi’ has hit back at Arouna Kone and admitted that Sevilla might dip back into the transfer market.

Upon completing a move from Levante to Wigan Athletic last week, former striker at Sevilla Kone [pictured] hit out at Monchi and the Andalucian club for the way his spell ended there.

However, Monchi believes that the player is not being honest about the situation, nor indeed even his transfer to England.

“I find no explanation for his criticism, because we treated him as one of the team,” he told the club’s official website.

“And I do not think that Levante will collect those €5m, because I imagine that the player, who was a free agent on June 30, will receive a large percentage of that sale. In time I’m sure we’ll cross this path again.”

Sevilla began their League campaign last night with a  2-1 win at home to Getafe, with Coach Michel Gonzalez hinting post-match that he wasn’t entirely content with the club’s transfer work.

“The planning has gone hand in hand with the Coach, Michel, and he is happy with the squad.

“But there are two weeks left until the market closes and 80 per cent of operations are done in the last days of August, the market can offer opportunities.

“It would be absurd to close our market activity if we could improve the squad.”

It is a squad that he believes strongly in heading into the new campaign.

“With Maduro’s medical situation aside, we have great joy and faith in him to become a major player for us. Reyes we believe will return to his best performances this season and there is data to prove this.

“Rakitic has had a good summer and wants to follow that up, Kondogbia has surprised us with his ability to adapt and follow the guidelines and Rabello can compete Sunday after Sunday.”

Monchi had an interesting candidate that he suggests might be competing with Sevilla for the European places next year.

“I imagine it will be the usual suspects  – Valencia, Atletico, Athletic, Sevilla, Malaga despite their exits…and then as Levante of last year and Mallorca of the year before have shown, others can raise themselves.

“I think Real Sociedad are the best improved with Vela, Jose Angel and Chori Castro and they may be in the fight. There is enough equality.”

The director has attracted criticism for his posts on social networking site Twitter in the past.

“I do not regret it, because if so then I would close the account. Sometimes I stop myself because I represent Sevilla, and I’m burning inside, but I stay quiet.

“But on Twitter I get lots of information and views that I respect and can be interesting. Overall, I like the experience.”

Tags Kone Monchi Wigan
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