GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
So, Monchi is now officially Roma's sporting director. Let's take a look at the five best signings he made for Sevilla in his 17 years there.
5. Gary Medel - signed in 2011 Plucked from relative obscurity in South America in 2011 for €3m, Gary Medel went on to become a consistently performing defensive midfielder. He spent two years at Sevilla, becoming a regular for his country Chile during that time. He secured a move to the Premier League after that, and now stars in Serie A for Inter Milan. 4. Geoffrey Kondogbia - signed in 2012 Geoffrey Kondogbia joined Sevilla as a 19 year old from Lens. The midfielder quickly developed, and although he only spent one season in Spain, the club made a profit of around €17m on the player. He now also plays in Serie A for Inter. 3. Federico Fazio - signed in 2007 Now here's a familiar name... Federico Fazio has been a colossus at the back for Roma this season, and is a definite contender for the club's player of the year. The man to bring him to Europe? Monchi, of course. Signed from a second tier Argentine side as a 19 year old, Fazio went on to become a starter in Sevilla's first team, before he ended up at Roma (via Tottenham Hotspur and a return to Sevilla). So already, we have someone at Roma to thank Monchi for. 2. Ivan Rakitic - signed in 2011 A player who has gone on to be a regular in one of the best teams in world football, Croatian international Ivan Rakitic was bought by Sevilla for remarkably just €2.5m. Technically gifted, he became captain of the club in 2013, two and a half years after joining. He went on to move to Barcelona in 2014, the club again turning a massive profit on the player. 1. Dani Alves - signed in 2002 For quite some time, Dani Alves was the best full back in world football. He is the quintessential modern day full back, an attacking threat and also competent and fit enough to not let his team down defensively - but that's enough praise for a Juventus player on here for now! What is astonishing is that Alves was signed by Sevilla from Bahia in Brazil after being spotted by Monchi's scouting networks - for just £468,000. Scouting a world class player for not even half a million is some achievement. Alves is now the holder of nine European medals - only Milan legend Paolo Maldini possesses more - and is the most expensive full back of all time, after Sevilla's sale of him to Barcelona in 2008. During his time at Sevilla, he helped the club win the UEFA Cup twice and the Copa Del Rey once. Hopefully, with Monchi's input, Roma will be able to pick up similar bargains to help the side win the equivalent trophies again - and hopefully that elusive fourth Scudetto. This is a time of great optimism for Romanisti, and Monchi's arrival is a real statement of intent from the club.
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samuel bannister
Founder and editor of Giallorossi Yorkshire, who is also a columnist for Roma's official website about the women's team. Categories
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October 2019
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