Sevilla sporting director Monchi has laughed off suggestions that his club turned down the chance to sign Robin van Persie from Manchester United this summer.
It has been claimed that Van Persie was offered to the Europa League winners before moving to Fenerbahce, but Monchi has insisted that the opportunity never arose.
"Snubbing Van Persie would be like saying no to Lionel Messi. He's a top player and I wouldn't have dared. I'd go and pick him up from wherever he was," Marca quotes Monchi as saying.
"I haven't snubbed him. If some of the players we tried for in the past could come, we'd always be open to it. Sevilla is more important than my pride. I'm not spiteful."
Sevilla have lost their top scorer from the last two seasons, Carlos Bacca, to AC Milan this summer.
