Arsenal sporting director target Monchi leaves Roma

The 50-year-old had been strongly linked with a move to the Emirates prior to his departure from the Italian club

Roma have announced that sporting director Monchi has left the club.

The 50-year-old, who has had his contract with the Italian club terminated by mutual consent, follows the exit of head coach Eusebio Di Francesco, who was sacked on Thursday after Roma were knocked out of the Champions League by Porto.

Roma chief executive Guido Fienga said: “I want to put on record our thanks to Monchi for his dedication during his time at the club and we wish him all the best for his future endeavours in football.”

Frederic Massara will look after the club's sporting operations following Monchi's departure.

Monchi commented: “I would like to thank President Pallotta, the club's management, staff, players and fans for their support during my time at the club.

“I wish Roma a lot of success in the future.”

At Sevilla, Monchi helped to discover Dani Alves, Jesus Navas, Sergio Ramos and Jose Antonio Reyes, while Roma have signed Cengiz Ünder, Ante Ćorić, Justin Kluivert and Nicolò Zaniolo under his watch.

Monchi, who joined Roma from the Spanish club in 2017, has emerged as one of the top names being considered for Arsenal’s newly created technical director role, in the wake of Sven Mislintat’s departure.

The former head of recruitment had initially been seen as a candidate for technical director, but Monchi is seen as one of the few football figures in Europe with a reputation equal to that of Mislintat for finding players, and would represent another coup.

Emery previously worked with Monchi at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium and said earlier this season that he worked “very well” with his compatriot.

“I worked very well with him in Sevilla for three and a half years and my relationship with him is good,” Emery said. “He is a good person and a good professional. I can say he is working in Roma and this issue is the club’s responsibility.”