RAFA BENITEZ'S reign at Inter Milan is over - and all that remains is the arrangement of his pay-off.

The Italian giants have all but sacked the former Liverpool boss but they are trying to get rid of him without a penny in compensation.

The Spaniard is entitled to a year's salary - around £3.3million - which would be doubled once Inter pay tax. 

President Massimo Moratti has sought legal advice to see if Benitez's full-blasted attack on the club following their win in the World Club Championship final over Mazembe last Saturday would give Inter "just cause" to sack him.

It explains why Inter put out a statement tonight insisting Benitez was still the manager of the European champions.

Moratti was in Madrid at the start of the week sparking rumours of a meeting with Benitez's agent Manuel Garcia Quillon or even Jose Mourinho about a possible return, but the club insisted the president was on a business trip.

Former AC Milan chief Leonardo is hot favourite to be given the nod until the end of the season with an option of an extra season in charge.

Benitez attacked Moratti claiming he'd been promised three signings in the summer that never came and insisted Inter's poor results so far this season were down to the "lack of a project".

The Spaniard's 'back me or sack me' rant soured the celebrations for the World Club Championship and all but ended Benitez's association with the Italian giants.

Players are on holiday until December 29 but well-placed sources last night told SunSport that Benitez will not be the man to take training once the squad return.

Despite taking charge of an all-conquering side that achieved an historic Treble under Jose Mourinho last season, Benitez has completely failed to inspire the team to more success.

They are currently languishing seventh in Serie A - 13 points behind leaders AC Milan.