Agent hoping Mancini will reconsider

Roberto Mancini’s agent hopes his client will reconsider his “unexpected” decision to leave Inter Milan this summer.

Giorgio De Giorgis, who represents the Nerazzurri coach, was surprised by Mancini’s announcement during yesterday’s press conference following his side’s Champions League exit to Liverpool.

Mancini, who has four years left on his contract with the Serie A champions, stunned the club by revealing he intended to quit at the end of the season.

De Giorgis said: “I do not exclude at all the possibility that he will remain at Inter. I hope he does.

“Club president Massimo Moratti values him and he values the president, so I hope he will stay. We must understand the reasons behind this unexpected decision.”

Mancini, 43, oversaw training today amid speculation over who will replace him, with Jose Mourinho closely linked to the Nerazzurri hotseat.

Mancini’s announcement left the Inter squad stunned, with some struggling to digest the news.

“I didn’t know anything about this,” said striker Julio Cruz. “But then again, in the heat of the moment, many things are said.

“Obviously it’s his decision and I don’t know what he is thinking, it’s difficult to say something.

“We just have to look ahead and end the campaign in the best possible way.”

Argentina midfielder Esteban Cambiasso is hopeful Mancini will reconsider.

“We must remain calm and not make any comments on the spur of the moment,” he said.

“From what I heard, he said the word ’probably’, so we will try to rest and then think about this some more in the coming days when we’ve all cooled down.

“We are disappointed just as he is.”

Mancini joined Inter from Lazio in 2004 and led the club to back-to-back Serie A titles in 2006 and 2007.

Inter, who only last weekend celebrated their centenary, are still on course to win two trophies.

The Nerazzurri lead the Serie A standings with a six-point advantage over Scudetto hopefuls Roma with 11 games remaining, and will take on Lazio next month in the Coppa Italia semi-finals.