Italian giant Inter Milan was expected to sack its manager Rafael Benitez on Monday, two days after he led the club to victory at the Club World Cup.
Reports in the Italian media, including Corrielle dello Sport, said bosses were targeting Zenit St. Petersburg manager, Luciano Spalletti, to replace Benitez after only six months at the San Siro.
The Spaniard fell foul of his employers after speaking out about the support he said was lacking from Inter owner Massimo Moratti.
Benitez said he needed four to five new players to improve a side that Jose Mourinho led to last season’s UEFA Champions League before departing to Real Madrid.
The former Liverpool boss sent out a “sack me, or back me” message to the board after Saturday’s victory over Congolese side TP Mazembe in Abu Dhabi.
Although he refused to discuss the position Monday, Moratti — who deemed the postgame comments “not suitable for the situation” — was widely expected to provide Benitez with an unwelcome, definitive, answer.
Despite Saturday’s Club World Cup triumph, Inter has struggled under Benitez, languishing in seventh in Serie A, with only one victory in six.