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Sevilla sporting director Monchi staying, not joining Roma - president

Sevilla president Jose Castro has said he knows nothing about reported interest from Roma in sporting director Monchi.

Gazzetta dello Sport claimed this week that Monchi had reached an agreement to replace Frederic Massara as Roma's sporting director from the 2017-18 season onwards after a meeting with Giallorosso executives, including club president James Pallotta, last week.

But Roma have denied those reports on their official radio station Roma Radio.

And asked about Monchi's possible departure after 16 years with Sevilla, Castro was quoted by Marca as saying: "I am not aware of any agreement and I speak to Monchi every day. It's just one of those reports that emerges every so often.

"I'm only thinking of a Sevilla with Monchi. My intention is for Monchi to continue at Sevilla FC."

In an interview with Canal Sur in October, Monchi said he would not mind living in cities like Rome or Paris.

He was linked with top European clubs in the summer, with his intention having been to leave Sevilla at the end of last season for "personal reasons," but the Spanish side ruled out his departure.

Monchi, 48, has been instrumental in Sevilla's sporting success and helped them gain financial stability.

The club have won nine trophies, including five Europa League titles, since the former Sevilla goalkeeper took over the position in 2000 with the team in the Segunda Division and in financial crisis.

Among his most notable successes in the transfer market have been a €22 million profit on selling Julio Baptista to Real Madrid in 2005 and €39.4m on Dani Alves's transfer to Barcelona in 2008.

In 2014, Monchi acquired wing-back Aleix Vidal from Almeria for €3m and sold him to Barcelona a year later for €22m.