Inter Milan chief Marco Branca has cooled talk of Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez already agreeing a move to the San Siro. Italian sources declared last night that Benitez had already struck terms with Inter and would be replacing Jose Mourinho as coach immediately after the Champions League final on Saturday.

However, Branca has moved to cool the speculation, declaring: "I have never contacted Benitez, Mourinho is still our coach."

Benitez, fluent in Italian, remains favourite to succeed the former Chelsea manager - with Liverpool's board unlikely to block him from making the move to the Serie A champs.