Sevilla’s visionary sporting director Ramon Rodriguez ‘Monchi’ is to leave the club after 17 years, he announced on Friday, as well as confirming he has spoken to Roma about joining the Serie A club but denying he has signed a deal with them.

Monchi is regarded as the architect of Sevilla’s success in the 21st century, with nine of the 13 trophies in the club’s 127-year history coming since the former goalkeeper became sporting director in 2000.

In that time the club have won two Uefa Cups and three successive Europa Leagues, two King’s Cups, a Spanish Super Cup and a European Super Cup.

A former goalkeeper for Sevilla from 1990 to 1999, Monchi is renowned for his record of bringing talented players to the club on a slender budget, attracting the likes of Dani Alves, Ivan Rakitic, Julio Baptista, Gzregorz Krychowiak and Kevin Gameiro and selling them on for far bigger fees.

Sevilla have earned a reported €300 million from player sales during Monchi’s tenure as sporting director, leaving a surplus of €150m.

His transfer record has made him a target for a host of European clubs, and Monchi said a number of clubs had tried to recruit him, with Roma making the biggest effort.

“I haven’t signed any deal with anyone but Roma have shown the most interest in me. It’s true that I met with Roma the other day in London,” Monchi said.

“I would like to apologise to the president because I didn’t warn him about it, but I just listened to their project, nothing else.”