Monchi and Cruz orchestrated Maresca's signing despite calling Moggi a 'fool'

The former general director of Sevilla, José María Cruz, has revealed in a podcast the ins and outs of Enzo Maresca's arrival, an operation that was nearly derailed by a tense encounter with Luciano Moggi.

The former general director of Sevilla FC, José María Cruz, disclosed in the podcast Compagio one of the most bizarre anecdotes from the club's golden era. According to his account, the arrival of Enzo Maresca at Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán in 2005 was almost jeopardised due to a tense exchange with the powerful Luciano Moggi, then general director of Juventus.

A tense trip to Turin and a departure through the door

Cruz travelled to Turin accompanied by Monchi, then sporting director, to negotiate the transfer of the Italian midfielder. The player, as the former executive recalled, “felt mistreated by his club, as during his contract years he had been loaned to many clubs.” However, the meeting with Moggi did not start on the right foot. In the middle of the conversation, Cruz stood up and exclaimed to Monchi:

“He's a fool and I can't stand him. You stay, because if I stay, the operation will fall apart.”

He then left the room, leaving the San Fernando native in charge of the negotiation.

Monchi, to the rescue of a strategic operation

Before leaving, Cruz set the red lines that Sevilla should not cross: not to accept certain financial conditions. Monchi, true to his style, managed to keep the signing alive and secure the addition of a player that the club deemed crucial to strengthen the midfield. That management, which could have ended with a slammed door, became one of the most notable successes in Sevilla's recent history.

From ‘fighting with the world’ to hero of Eindhoven

Enzo Maresca arrived in Nervión and, according to Cruz, went from being a player “fighting with the world” to becoming one of the key figures of the club's golden era. His performance was decisive in winning European and national titles. In the legendary final in Eindhoven against Middlesbrough (4-0), the Italian scored two goals and was named MVP of the match. A story that, had it not been for Monchi's patience and Cruz's outburst, might never have been written.

For Sevilla fans, this anecdote reinforces the legend of a management team that did not hesitate to go all in – even at the cost of calling one of the strongmen of Italian football a ‘fool’ – to bring in a player who would turn out to be key. Indeed, sometimes, a timely slammed door can be the best move of the season.