Benitez axed by Inter
Former Liverpool boss shown the door by European champions
Sky Sports News understands Rafa Benitez has been sacked from his post as Inter Milan manager after just six months in charge.
The former Liverpool boss was only appointed by the Serie A giants in the summer but has failed to impress during his time in Italy.
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.
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.
Outburst
Inter's defence of their European crown has also stuttered as they finished second in Group A behind Tottenham and suffering 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 understood to be 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 has pointedly refused to stand by the Spaniard following his explosive comments and it now appears his patience has run out.
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