21 Dec 2010

Benitez reportedly sacked from Inter Milan after outburst

6:47 am on 21 December 2010

Rafael Benitez is reportedly set to be sacked as coach of the Italian football giants Inter Milan, following his outburst over signings.

Inter president and owner Massimo Moratti is refusing to comment, saying he prefers to avoid the risk of "creating controversies".

The latest edition of the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper says Benitez, who's only been in the role for six months, was being removed with Zenit St. Petersburg coach Luciano Spalletti favourite to take over at the World, European and Italian champions.

On the weekend, Moratti labelled as "inappropriate" comments by Benitez after their World Club Cup win at Abu Dhabi that Inter had to make signings or else he would speak with his agent about his future.

The former Liverpool coach Benitez only took over in June after treble-winning Jose Mourinho left for Real Madrid.

Their fifth trophy this year had appeared to have secured the Spaniard's job after a sticky domestic spell but with Inter not playing again until Serie A resumes on January 7th, Moratti has time to make a decision.

Benitez asked for new players for the start of the campaign but no signings materialised and a subsequent injury crisis has contributed to champions Inter lying 13 points behind leaders AC Milan at Serie A's mid-season break.