MILAN, Italy (AP) Two weeks ago Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini and team owner Massimo Moratti embraced on the field after a third straight Serie A title. On Friday, Mancini threatened to sue his former employer.
Moratti fired Mancini late Thursday, citing the coach's comments after Inter lost to Liverpool in the Champions League quarterfinals in March. Mancini indicated then that he would resign at the end of the season, but changed his mind a few days later.
In its statement that Mancini had been fired, Inter also referred to recent media reports involving Mancini but did not elaborate.
Italian newspapers have published transcripts of intercepted phone calls between Mancini and Domenico Brescia, who was recently arrested in a drug probe. Both men have denied any wrongdoing.
Mancini said Inter was wrong to fire him.
Inter's decision "originates from events that seriously offended my honor and my reputation," Mancini said in a press release sent to the ANSA news agency. "The illegal diffusion (of the intercepted phone calls) was denounced in the competent courts and I have told my lawyer to protect my image in all legitimate arenas and to stigmatize the actions of my employer that has attempted to take advantage of false and illegal events."
Mancini's contract with Inter runs through 2012 and is worth $9.4 million) per season. Mancini rejected the club's initial offer of a $7.8 million severance payoff, the Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Thursday.