Monchi reveals he nearly joined Arsenal in 2018 but a phone call from Sevilla ended the deal

Sporting director Monchi came within touching distance of joining Arsenal alongside Unai Emery in 2018, only for a last-minute phone call from Sevilla president Pepe Castro to redirect his career back to Andalusia — and, by extension, change the course of both men’s futures.

Speaking to Mucho Deporte, as reported by Sport Witness, Monchi — who served as Emery’s trusted director at Sevilla before the pair later reunited at Aston Villa — explained that he had already decided to leave Roma when Emery reached out about the Arsenal vacancy.

“Once I had decided to leave Roma, Unai called me about going to Arsenal,” Monchi said. “I was on the verge of going. But amidst the whirlwind of exchanging contracts with Arsenal, Pepe Castro called me. Just as he had helped me leave for Roma because I asked him to, I couldn’t say no to that call.”

The decision strained his relationship with Emery, who had been energised by the prospect of bringing his long-time collaborator to north London. “It caused a bit of friction with Unai — because he was very excited, as was I, about me going to Arsenal — but I came to Sevilla instead,” Monchi added. “I am incredibly grateful for that second spell and that opportunity in Sevilla, even though those were four difficult, complicated years.”

The partnership the two men had built at Sevilla was formidable. Monchi had stepped into the Director of Football role at the club in 2000 and helped construct a side that claimed seven Europa League titles, with Emery responsible for three consecutive victories. Their formula — identifying undervalued talent and developing players into continental-level performers — became a model studied across European football.

Without Monchi at his side, Emery’s Arsenal tenure unravelled. The club finished fifth in his first season and lost the 2019 Europa League final 4-1 to Chelsea, before he was sacked in November of his second campaign. Recruitment during that period fell to Raul Sanlehhi and Sven Mislintat.

Emery eventually rebuilt his reputation, winning a fourth Europa League title with Villarreal in 2021 before taking charge at Aston Villa — where Monchi joined him once more as sporting director.

“The Unai I know from Sevilla is nothing like the Unai I’ve come to know in Birmingham; he is a much better Unai, because he is someone who is always striving to improve,” Monchi said. “He is deeply inquisitive about football — obsessed with video analysis, imagery, and match preparation — and a coach who has almost always been successful.”