Monchi: Salah wanted to leave at that time. All I could do was raise the price. Levy was one of the most difficult targets to negotiate with.

Former Villa director Monchi accepted an exclusive interview, reviewed his experience at Aston Villa and Roma, and revealed the inside stories behind many heavyweight signings.

Why did you leave Aston Villa?

We all agree that after two very successful seasons, both sporting and financial, the next step for the club must be to consolidate its place among the elite. We both agreed that after a major attrition, some new faces might be needed and I could look for a new challenge. Based on consensus, courtesy, and respect, we agreed that this was the best option for everyone.

Are the rumors true that Arsenal and Manchester United are interested in Watkins?

In the January transfer window, Arsenal had substantial interest in Watkins. In the summer market, there were no official offers. Look, for almost three months of the summer, as the market starts getting earlier and earlier, there are always rumors, and not just about Watkins. There's Morgan Rogers, Marty Cash, Konsa, McGinn, everybody, because in such a long market, with a team that has such good players and is coming off two great seasons, it's normal to have rumors but no formal offers.

How did you convince Rashford to join? He is now at Barcelona.

The key is Emery. When Emery spoke to Rashford, he had already told him: "Listen, Rashford, I have confidence in you. We are going to give you the opportunity to play in the Premier League." He was able to convey to him everything Rashford needed to hear. The best part is that it all came true, and that was all that mattered. Rashford is a player with enviable technical and physical levels, a top player.

Asensio is another major winter signing. How did you convince him?

Well, Asensio’s situation is similar to Rashford’s. He is also a player that Emery has always wanted to have, in fact, before I came, before he went to PSG, they were very close. This is the type of player Emery likes very much, the kind of No. 10 player who can move between the lines, connect the team, send inside passes, and score goals. Well, taking all of that together, I think we convinced him. For me, he is a very high level player. I don’t know where I’d rank him among the top signings, but he’s one of the most skilled players I’ve ever been blessed to have.

What are you missing in your Roman days?

Maybe it’s on my own side that I don’t know enough about the characteristics of Rome. But sometimes when we talk about Roma and Monchi, we always look at those two years as a negative. In the first year, the team finished third and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. When I left the next year we were in fifth place, so it wasn't too bad. In both transfer markets, we had to sell all important players due to financial needs. But yes, maybe I didn’t understand Rome’s idiosyncrasies well enough at the time. And I think Roma lacked a little bit of patience, which is a common thing in Roma.

Looking back now, is selling Salah a good thing or a bad thing?

That is necessary. When I got there, Salah was basically sold for 33 million euros plus 3 million bonuses. In the end, he sold it for 55 million, but he had already made a commitment to the player at that time. He wanted to leave and the only thing we could do was try our best to raise the price. You have to understand that moment, the sale of Salah was before Dembélé, before the football market exploded with transfer madness.

Who is the most difficult negotiating opponent you have ever encountered?

There are many. I always say Levy, he's probably one of the hardest people to negotiate with. Tottenham have always been a difficult club to play against.

What is your most perfect signing?

The most perfect signing is Alves. Because it encompasses everything: discover a player from next to nothing, fit him in, get him to excel at your club, win titles and then sell him for a substantial capital gain.