It hasn’t taken former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez long to find a new job. Less than a week after his departure from Anfield the Spaniard has been appointed at European Champions Inter Milan.
50 year old Benitez spent six seasons at Liverpool but left last Thursday “by mutual consent”.
He replaces Jose Mourinho at the San Siro, who has left for Real Madrid after guiding Internazionale to an unprecedented treble success last season.
The former Valencia boss be unveiled as the new Inter manager in Milan on Wednesday.
Speculation will now intensify surrounding possible departures from Anfield to join their former boss. Chief among them is midfielder Javier Mascherano who has again praised Benitez.
“Only Benitez could take the place of a coach like Mourinho,” said Mascherano.
“He is a great coach. He has charisma, personality, a winning mentality. Moreover, he will find himself brilliantly in Italy because of the tactical game. Rafa studies everything on the table and directs the team from the bench like an orchestra conductor.
“After Mourinho, he is the only man capable of continuing Inter’s winning run.”
Mascherano has been unsettled on Merseyside since last summer and may fancy a move to Milan where he would join up with compatriots Javier Zanetti, Walter Samuel and Esteban Cambiasso.
Several members of Benitez’s backroom staff are also set to follow him to Milan, including first team coach Mauricio Pellegrino and fitness coach Paco Di Miguel.
