Agent plots Rafa’s exit from Inter

RAFAEL BENITEZ’S agent last night confirmed ongoing talks are aimed at ending his contract at Inter Milan.

In what amounts to the first solid indication that Benitez has indeed been sacked by the reigning Serie A and European champions, agent Manuel Garcia Quilon said last night: “We are talking about it, but I cannot say anything more.”

Quilon met with Inter vice president Rinaldo Ghelfi and technical director Marco Branca, as well as club lawyer Angelo Capellini. “We are neither optimistic nor pessimistic,” he added. “We’ll meet again to talk more.”

With Benitez back in Liverpool, speculation is rife he has been dismissed as Inter coach, but the club have denied the story thus far, with president Massimo Moratti describing the situation as “a bit of a mess” that the club are “trying to understand”.

But the 50-year-old looks likely to leave the post after he issued a ’sack me or back me’ ultimatum after leading Inter to success in the FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday.

Five-time reigning Serie A champions Inter sit seventh in Serie A while they only qualified second in their Champions League group behind competition debutants Tottenham.

Inter’s season has been undermined by injury, sitting 13 points behind leaders and city rivals AC Milan.

Former AC Milan boss Leonardo has been heavily linked with the post.