Mancini staying at Inter, says top club official

Roberto Mancini will remain Inter coach despite constant speculation linking Jose Mourinho with the job, chief executive Ernesto Paolillo said yesterday.

"We have the best coach in Italy in Roberto Mancini," Paolillo told website www.arabianbusiness.com in an interview.

"We have a long contract with him, we're completely satisfied with him. He was the winner last year and two years ago, and is winning this year - why do we have to change?"

Inter can retain their Serie A title by beating rivals Milan on Sunday before facing Lazio in an Italian Cup semi-final second leg on Wednesday.

Mancini announced after Inter's Champions League first knockout round defeat by Liverpool in March that he would quit at the end of the season.

He changed his mind the next day but media reports have speculated he will still leave at the end of the campaign because of strained relations with club owner Massimo Moratti.

Former Chelsea coach Mourinho has denied that he is on his way to Inter amid constant rumours in the European press.

Paolillo also said Inter needed investment to compete with English clubs in Europe but was coy about a move for Barcelona's Ronaldinho, whom Moratti and Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani say is too expensive at €40 million ($62.5 million).