Moratti: Coach situation a mess
Reuters - Wednesday 22 December 2010, 14:26
MILAN - Inter Milan president Massimo
Moratti has again declined to confirm coach Rafael Benitez has
been officially sacked but did say the situation was
complicated.
"We are trying to understand what's going on, this situation
is a bit of a mess," Moratti told reporters on Wednesday.
"Everything that happened was a bit unexpected, we are
considering every point of view."
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Widespread media reports have said Benitez is in the process
of being removed after just six months in charge of the European
and Italian champions given his injury-hit side's poor domestic
form and Saturday's shock outburst about a lack of signings.
Former Liverpool boss Benitez, upset no new players were
brought in during the close-season, gave Inter an ultimatum
after their Club World Cup win that he would speak to his agent
about his future if signings did not materialise in January.
Moratti said the comments were "inappropriate", sparking
speculation Benitez had been sacked but Inter have made no
official comment amid reports they are struggling to agree a
severance package despite the coach having only a two-year deal.
When former Inter coach Roberto Mancini was axed in 2008, it
took the club several days to officially confirm what every fan
knew had been decided at a summit with Moratti.
Former AC Milan coach Leonardo, who left Inter's city rivals
after just one season in management in May, has been made
favourite by bookmakers to succeed Benitez after Zenit St
Petersburg said their boss Luciano Spalletti was staying.
"I haven't had a way of talking to any other coach. I
haven't met Leonardo," Moratti added.
The idea of a Milan coach managing their big rivals just a
season later may seem alien to many fans but such a move
would be nothing new for Italian football with players and
managers often swapping between the big clubs.
Former Inter talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic is now excelling at
Serie A leaders Milan and they have built up a 13-point
advantage over seventh-placed Inter, whose hopes of a sixth
straight scudetto look unlikely.
In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport in September,
Brazilian Leonardo said he would not be averse to one day
coaching Inter having left Milan after falling out with club
owner Silvio Berlusconi.
"Me and Moratti have known each other for years," Leonardo
said. "Never say never."