Monchi has confirmed he is leaving Sevilla after 29 years ‘due to exhaustion’ and whilst he has met with Roma, nothing is signed yet.
The 48-year-old first joined the club in 1988 as a goalkeeper before taking up the position of sporting director in 2000, and on Thursday the club confirmed his departure at the end of the campaign.
"I'm not going for professional reasons. You know I've wanted to go since May but I didn't handle it correctly,” Monchi told a press conference.
"I've been detaching myself from my responsibilities little by little. Most of the planning for next season is already done.
“But I am exhausted, after 29 years at this club and 17 as a sporting director it is time for me to change, I made up my mind last May and have not doubted myself since.
“Yes, I met with Roma in London and the discussions were positive but nothing has been agreed yet, there are a few clubs interested but nothing is finalised.
"The club is strong, they'll find another Monchi; it'll be harder on me than on them.
“The club has offered me several possibilities of different types of farewells, but I want the one which is most simple.”
Sevilla president Jose Castro confirmed the club would hold a farewell ceremony and that Monchi would not have to pay any release clause for ending his contract early, as his work over the years ‘had more than repaid it’.
