Roma sporting director Monchi explains why he overlooked Manchester United and PSG

AS Roma sporting director Monchi believes that his decision to join the Serie A giants over other European clubs like Manchester United or Paris Saint-Germain is paying off following a promising start to the life in Italy.

Monchi garnered a reputation as one of the best transfer gurus in the world during a successful 16-year spell at Sevilla.

The former goalkeeper took over the Andalucian side in the second division of Spanish football in 2000 and led the Spaniards to nine different titles, including five Europa League trophies.

It is said that the 'La Liga's King Midas' generated €200m (£178m, $236m) under his tutelage by signing cheap and unknown players from all over the world before selling them on for a big profit.

Dani Alves, Ivan Rakitic, Julio Baptista, Seydou Keita, Ever Banega, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Alvaro Negredo and Geoffrey Kondogbia were some of his discoveries at Sevilla while he also oversaw the promotion of a number of players from the academy including current Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, Jesus Navas and Jose Antonio Reyes.

In the summer of 2016 a number of clubs were linked with his services when it emerged that Monchi was looking for a new challenge.

AS reported that the Spaniard had received a "dizzying offer from Manchester United" while he was also linked with the likes of Everton, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

The highly-rated Spaniard finally stayed one more season at Sevilla but the rumours resurfaced earlier in the summer after he decided that his time at the Sanchez Pizjuan was over.

United were again linked with him while PSG were also said to be interested in luring Monchi to work alongside former Sevilla boss Unai Emery.

Barcelona were also reportedly monitoring the situation with the Catalans at the time said to be considering partying ways with Robert Fernandez following a disappointing campaign.

However, Monchi decides to join Roma because he was convinced the Serie A side would give him the same freedom that he had at Sevilla.

Asked why he chose the Serie A giants over the rumoured offers from PSG and Manchester United, he told El Pais : "Because it allowed me to continue being Monchi and to work as I have always done. I was convinced, and time has given me reason, that in Rome I could get that. That was the fundamental reason. It was not because of the money or because of the name of the club. And I was not wrong [when I made the decision]"

The Spaniard refused to deny that he received an offer from Old Trafford but when pressed about other rumours linking him with Barcelona, Monchi added: "In Spain, honestly, I did not have direct contact with anyone as I did with other European clubs."

Monchi had a busy summer at Roma during a transfer window in which he sold the likes of Mohamed Salah to Liverpool before signing Patrik Schick and Maxime Gonalons.