Former Roma chief Walter Sabatini is backing their move for Sevilla sports director Monchi.
Sabatini spoke at a university lecture and answered questions from the students.
“Today is a bad day for me, as Roma have almost made official the name of their next director of sport. It's not official yet, but it's Monchi," said Spalletti.
“He's a great professional, so having made this extraordinary choice, Roma have got an extraordinary man. I was the director of sprot at Roma until October, but over the last few months I was still thinking like I was there. Today I can let go.
“I hate having lost Roma, as Roma were my life. There is no Roma game I haven't watched. Today my situation is overcast. I will have to think of something else.
“A good director of sport makes a profit on players and I did that. At times they even managed to avoid the club increasing the capital."