Wednesday 12 March, 2008

Roberto Mancini’s resignation from the Inter bench is called into question by a number of respected figures in the world of calcio and even his agent.

The Nerazzurri Coach caused shockwaves after yesterday’s Champions League defeat by Liverpool when he revealed that he would stand down at the end of the season.

The former striker still has four years remaining on a lucrative contract at San Siro and was expected to remain at the club for the foreseeable future.

While the Press have already begun speculation as to the identity of his successor, many believe that Mancio’s words were spoken in the heat of the moment.

“It was a moment of bitterness from Mancini and I’m sure that he will stay,” ex-Inter goalkeeping legend Walter Zenga – who is amongst the candidates for the post – told Gazzetta.it.

“Perhaps it’s just a way to ask the club to give him a boost in confidence,” said Gianluca Vialli, who is a close friend of Mancini’s.

“Roberto has put his future in the hands of Inter chief Massimo Moratti and now it’s the club’s turn to do something for him.”

Sandro Mazzola – an Inter hero of the 1960s – is also cynical of Mancini’s intention to leave.

“I don’t think he will walk away from Inter because in his interview he used words that indicated doubt,” he explained on Radio Kiss Kiss.

“It was a comment born of disappointment. If he wanted to leave then he would have gone to the President and not to the Press.”

Ex-Inter Coach Gigi Simoni was scathing in his assessment of Mancini’s statement.

“I’m perplexed,” he roared on Radio R101. “It seems so absurd. The team are fighting for a Scudetto that seemed to be in the bag and this kind of news is badly timed.

“This certainly won’t help the players. I saw him a couple of times during Inter’s Centenary celebrations and there was no indication that he was mulling over a decision of this kind.”

There has been no comment from Mancini in the cold light of day, but his agent Giorgio De Giorgis has confessed that his client’s decision isn’t definite.

“It’s possible that he could stay and I hope that he does,” he said. “There is a relationship of mutual respect between Roberto and Moratti.

“Has he found another team? No, that is nonsense. He hasn’t got any other contract on the cards.”