Mancini leaves Inter

Roberto Mancini's chances of becoming Chelsea manager appear to have increased because his agent claims he has left Inter Milan.

Mancini is one of the favourites to fill the vacancy left following the sacking of Avram Grant.

He claimed earlier this year that he would leave the Italian giants at the end of the season but club officials tried to change his mind.

Now his representative Giorgio De Giorgis claims Mancini has left and will be replaced by Jose Mourinho.

De Giorgis said: "Roberto is very disappointed also because he has not yet finished his job. He wanted to try and win even more league titles, and maybe even the Champions League.

"Now Mourinho will arrive and he has only got to repeat what has happened in the last few years."

Inter have won the Serie A title three years in a row under Mancini and he intends to lay out his future plans.

De Giorgis added: "Roberto is now considering making a statement to avoid gossip and it should be a statement praising the president and those who worked with him.

"Certainly he is shocked and has taken it badly.

"I have spoken with him and he sounded quite down.

"He thought he would have a month of holiday now before returning to Inter and continuing to win. Maybe now it will be a bit longer, but I hope somebody calls him because it is never good to be out of work as a coach."

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.

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