Cape Town - Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo, known in the football fraternity as Monchi, has spurned reported interest from Arsenal to link up with La Liga outfit Sevilla as their new sporting director.
Gunners manager Unai Emery, who previously worked with Monchi at the Spanish club, had reportedly been keen to see the 50-year-old installed at Emirates Stadium.
Monchi, who has a long association with Sevilla stretching back to his playing career, was available after leaving his role as director of football at Italian club Roma earlier this month.
A statement from the La Liga outfit read: "Sevilla FC and Monchi have come to an agreement for the San Fernando native to return to the post he left two years ago - sporting director of Sevilla Football Club."
Monchi, a former goalkeeper, made 115 appearances for the Rojiblancos before taking up the administrative role after his retirement.
He held the post of sporting director for 17 years, a period during which the club won 11 trophies, before stepping down to pursue other opportunities.
Five of those successes were in the Europa League, three of which came in succession under the guidance of Emery.