Soccer:Inter Milan have denied reports they have approached Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez about the possibility of replacing Jose Mourinho. Mourinho has been linked with a summer move to Real Madrid and will make a decision on his future after Saturday's Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
When asked about Benitez, Inter sporting director Marco Branca said: “We absolutely have had no contact with Benitez. Our coach is Jose Mourinho.”
Benitez has also been linked with the Juventus hotseat in recent months but the Turin giants are set to unveil former Sampdoria tactician Luigi Del Neri as their new coach this week.
Reports yesterday claimed AC Milan were also interested in securing his services after they dispensed with Leonardo following a disappointing season.
Mourinho has said he will either be sitting in the dugout at the San Siro or Real Madrid's Bernabeu stadium next season.
"My only options are Madrid or Inter," he said today, when asked if he would leave the Italian champions at the end of the season.
"To get me to leave this club after two years of incredible work, only Real Madrid could achieve that. If I go, I will move with a clear conscience having changed the club."
Mourinho is on the brink of a winning an unprecedented treble of trophies for an Italian side. With the Italian Cup and Serie A titles in the bag, he leads Inter into the Champions League final against Bayern Munich on Saturday, at Real's Bernabeu stadium.
When Mourinho was asked if he would be coaching Real next year, he replied: "I don't know. All I say is that if you are a coach or a great player to not play in a club like Madrid, leaves a hole in your career. I want to coach Real 100 per cent. If it is next year or later, I can't say."
The future of Real coach Manuel Pellegrini is uncertain after he finished the season trophyless on Sunday, when they ended up second in La Liga behind arch-rivals Barcelona.
Real director general Jorge Valdano has said the club would sit down and discuss whether the Chilean would complete the second year of his contract in the coming days.