Gasperini to lead Inter

24 June 2011 16:00

Inter Milan have confirmed Gian Piero Gasperini will be the club's new manager next season.

The 53-year-old Gasperini is yet to complete the final details of a two-year deal, but Inter have nonetheless announced he will take over from Leonardo. Leonardo joined Inter back in December but the Brazilian tactician is set to become the new sporting director at Paris St Germain this summer.

A statement from Inter read: "It will be Gian Piero Gasperini to become Inter's new coach."

The statement continued: "The official announcement will be made once all the final bureaucratic formalities are completed. Once this is done, the date of Gasperini's unveiling will be given. Gasperini will sign a two-year contract."

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti, who is abroad on business, has welcomed Gasperini's selection.

Moratti said on the club's official website, www.inter.it: "I am fully satisfied with the choice. I wish Gasperini all the success that have taken Inter to become Club World champions."

Gasperini will become Inter's fourth coach in one year, following the departure of Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid, the dismissal of Rafael Benitez back in December and Leonardo's imminent move to PSG.

Gasperini led Genoa to promotion from the second division in 2007 and qualification for the Europa League with a fifth-place finish in Serie A in 2009. He was sacked by Genoa in November.

Gasperini was just one of the numerous candidates that Inter had targeted since announcing that Leonardo could leave the club earlier this month, despite being under contract with the Nerazzurri for a further season. Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa turned down a move to Inter while Sinisa Mihajlovic has opted to remain at Fiorentina.

Inter had considered former Porto coach Andre Villas-Boas as a possible candidate but later ruled him out due to the Portuguese's 15milllion euros release fee. Villas-Boas joined Chelsea earlier this week.

Source: PA