Rome - Italian champions Inter Milan Thursday sacked coach Roberto Mancini.
The club said the 43-year-old Mancini was dismissed because of comments he made after a Champions League defeat to Liverpool.
Mancini had said after the match earlier this year that he would quit the club at the end of the season. He withdrew the comments a few days later.
"FC Internazionale have informed Roberto Mancini that he has been sacked as coach," a club statement said.
The dismissal was "in particular because of the comments made by the coach at the end of the Inter-Liverpool match," it said.
Despite leading Inter to three successive Serie A titles, Mancini's future had been in doubt over the last few weeks. He is now being linked with the vacant coaching job at English side Chelsea.
Meanwhile, former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, sacked in September by the London club, is reportedly lined up to take over at Inter.
Chelsea at the weekend sacked Avram Grant, the coach who succeeded Mourinho. (dpa)
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