Former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has been confirmed as the new manager of Italian giants Inter Milan, according to a British Broadcasting Corporation report,

The Spaniard, 50, has signed a two-year contract to take charge at the reigning European and Serie A champions.

”Inter welcome Rafael Benitez,” the club said in a statement, adding the new coach would be introduced at a news conference on Tuesday, 22 June.

Benitez left Liverpool last week after six years in charge, and replaces Jose Mourinho who has joined Real Madrid.

He won the UEFA Cup with Valencia in 2004 before moving to Anfield and winning the Champions League the following year.

But Benitez faces a tough task following the flamboyant Mourinho at the San Siro.

Under the Portuguese, Inter won the Italian league twice, as well as the Champions League and Italian Cup last season.

And even before Mourinho took charge, Inter had won three consecutive titles under Manchester City‘s current manager Roberto Mancini.

Towards the end of last season, when it looked likely that Benitez could be leaving Liverpool, he was strongly linked with Inter‘s rivals Juventus, before they appointed Luigi del Neri.

However Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano, one of Benitez‘s former players at Liverpool, has previously backed the Spaniard to be successful in Serie A.


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