Inter confirm Benitez exit
Former Liverpool boss lasts just six months in Milan

Rafa Benitez's departure from Inter Milan has been confirmed by the European champions.

The former Liverpool manager's exit from Giuseppe Meazza was revealed by Sky Sports News HD on Tuesday evening and has now been rubber-stamped by the club.

An agreement has been reached between the Serie A side and the Spaniard to terminate his contract with immediate effect after just six months at the helm.

A statement on the club's official website read: "Inter Milan and Rafael Benitez can announce that they have reached a mutually satisfactory agreement for the early termination of his contract.

"Inter thank Rafael Benitez for his work in leading his team to success in the Italian Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup."

Benitez was handed the unenviable task of following in the footsteps of Jose Mourinho after the former Chelsea chief secured an unprecedented treble of the UEFA Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia titles.

Struggle
The 50-year-old has seen his side struggle in league action this season and they are currently seventh in the Serie A standings, 13 points adrift of leaders AC Milan, although they do have two games in hand.

Inter's defence of their European crown has also stuttered as they finished second in Group A behind Tottenham and suffered a miserable 3-0 defeat at the hands of Werder Bremen in their final group fixture.

A meeting with Bayern Munich, who Mourinho's Inter defeated in the Champions League final last summer, was on the cards in the last 16, but there will be a new man at the helm for that fixture in February.

Benitez was on borrowed time after his outburst in the wake of the Club World Cup success when he called on club president Massimo Moratti to back him in the transfer market if they wanted him to stay as coach.

Moratti pointedly refused to stand by the Spaniard following his explosive comments and after a number of days of behind-the-scenes negotiations, Benitez's exit has been confirmed.

The former Anfield manager, who remains a popular figure with some Reds supporters, is currently on Merseyside at his Wirral property as he contemplates his next move.