Former Sevilla midfielder Isco has accused Aston Villa sporting director Monchi of physically attacking him.
Isco had his contract terminated before Christmas, while Monchi left Sevilla at the end of the season for Villa.
Still a free agent, Isco made the revelations in an interview with Marca.
Discussing why things nosedived at Sevilla, the former Real Madrid star said: "Many things have happened. I terminated my contract with Real Madrid and that preseason (Julen) Lopetegui was in Sevilla. He called me and told me that he wanted me. In the end Lopetegui is one of the coaches with whom I've been the best and I've played my best for him. I had other offers from Italy, but I thought it was a good step in my career, because it's a great team, they were playing in the Champions League, Lopetegui was there.... It was a very nice opportunity."
However, Isco admits things changed when Lopetegui, now with Wolves, was sacked.
"Julen is sacked, (Jorge) Sampaoli comes in and that's fine too. But when Lopetegui leaves and the winter transfer window approaches, I see many strange things within the club. To start with, they called my agent to look for a way out, without talking to me beforehand, so, as soon as I found out, I went to talk directly to Monchi.
"I told him: 'Listen, this has come to me, I don't know what's going on, I don't know if you want me, if you don't want me? Be honest with me and we'll sort it out without any problems. I'm at your disposal'.
"I don't know what economic crisis Sevilla could have, but after that conversation everything went wrong. I just wanted to know the club's thoughts and he told me that if I could find a club I should leave. After that conversation, Monchi kept saying that I wanted to leave, something that wasn't true, and he started calling me and my lawyer every day, pestering us to sign the contract. So, I went to talk to him again and I told him: 'Look Monchi, you are not being honest with me or with the people you are telling things to. I want to stay and you are saying that I want to leave'. And then there was a bit of a conflict..."
Isco continued: "I'm going to tell you something very strong. I told him that he was the biggest liar I had ever met in the world of football and he assaulted me. He came towards me, grabbed me by the neck, we moved away from each other and they had to separate us completely.
"As you can understand, after that, I didn't want to stay there under any circumstances. And although I felt sorry for him, because I had a very good relationship with my teammates and the fans treated me wonderfully, I couldn't be at ease in a club where the sporting director assaults me and nobody speaks out or apologizes. Neither for the aggression, nor for all the lies he was leaking. So, I forgave my contract and left.
"This happened after training, on the way to the locker room.
"First of all, I pushed him away and then the security people separated us completely. I know that both Monchi and the club were going through delicate moments, but going beyond the barrier of violence is not something I could let happen.
"I was happy at Sevilla, I always played and although we were going through a complicated sporting moment, I was convinced that we were going to get through it, as in the end we did. But it is not like what is being said in many places, especially in the Seville press, where it is said that I got off the boat. Far from it. That doesn't enter into my mentality. I've been many years in Real Madrid and I've never given up, I've always tried to fight for a place, sometimes I've got it, sometimes I haven't? But to get off the boat in this life, never.
Isco admits he was furious with how events deteriorated.
He said: "I went home very hurt, because in the end I went to the club because Lopetegui had called me, telling me that he wanted me, that he loved me, that there was a good team... And I was delighted. I lowered my salary four times compared to what I was earning at Madrid and when I arrived, people at the club told me that Monchi didn't agree with my signing.
"I was going with the idea of playing with the coach who has always bet on me and to win over people who were not so confident, but this happened.... So, imagine how I got home afterwards. I'd been in Seville for four months, after moving house with three children... And then you suddenly find yourself with doubts about what's going to happen, where we're going to go, the schools? It's complicated, but you have to be strong and look forward."
