Monchi leaves Sevilla amid Roma reports

Spanish media reports say Monchi, who has admirers across Europe, will go to Roma in Italy in a similar role.

"FC Sevilla and Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo, Monchi, have reached a deal for the departure of the club's sporting director," the club announced in a short statement, adding a press conference would be held Friday with further details.

Since taking over as sporting director in 2000 the former goalkeeper has helped guide Sevilla from Spain's second division to five Europa League or UEFA Cup titles.

Moreover, Monchi did it while raking in hundreds of millions of euros as the likes of Dani Alves, Sergio Ramos and Ivan Rakitic headed for greener pastures and replacing them at a fraction of the cost.

In a February interview with AFP he hinted at a move: "I have said many times that France and Italy are the models that are perhaps the leagues that attract me most because the figure of sporting director has more weight."