Inter Milan manager Rafael Benitez has essentially issued an ultimatum after they won the Club World Cup on Saturday, telling the club to support him, or terminate his contract.
AFPRafael Benitez takes a back seat as the Inter squad celebrates.
• Internacional 4-2 Seongnam
• Club World Cup Gallery
Benitez has been the subject of criticism in recent weeks for Inter's slow start in Serie A and was told by club owner Massimo Moratti that he had to win the Club World Cup title in Abu Dhabi.
Now, after he made good on that requirement, beating African side TP Mazembe 3-0 in the final, he has told Moratti and others at the club to show him support if he wants to see more trophies at the club.
"There are three possibilities (for the club)," he told reporters. "One, 100% support for the coach and buy four or five players - to build a stronger team with competition among the players to be able to carry on winning matches and trophies.
"Two, carry on like this without a project, without planning and go ahead with one person to blame, for the whole season getting to May this way.
"The third is to speak to my agent, reach an agreement if there is not this support. Simple."
Barca cruise to derby win to maintain top spot in Spain
Pedro Rodriguez opened the scoring for Barcelona as they cruised to victory at Espanyol.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Barcelona thrash city rivals Espanyol for 10th straight league win
- Pedro Rodriguez and David Villa score doubles in emphatic away triumph
- Real Madrid, who play on Sunday, trail Pep Guardiola's team by five points
- Villarreal secure third place ahead of mid-winter break with 3-1 home win over Real Mallorca
Pedro Rodriquez and David Villa scored doubles with midfielder Xavi also on target in the 10th successive win for the all-conquering champions which left them five points clear of Real Madrid at the top.
Real are at home to Sevilla on Sunday as they bid for a win to keep pace with their arch-rivals.
Barcelona went into the match at the Cornella-El Prat stadium expecting a tough battle as Espanyol had compiled a flawless seven wins in a row at home in the league.
But once Pedro had shot them in front after 19 minutes, set up by Lionel Messi, they never looked back.
Midfielder dynamo Xavi gave Pep Guardiola's side a 2-0 lead before the break and the pattern of dominance continued in the second half.
Pedro grabbed his second, again assisted by the brilliance of Messi, before Dani Osvaldo pulled one back for Espanyol.
But Villa rubbed it in with two late strikes as Barca scored five goals at Espanyol for the first time in their history.
Earlier, Villarreal stayed third with another impressive 3-1 home win over Real Mallorca at El Madrigal.
Villarreal made it 23 points from a possible 25 at home to move five points clear of Espanyol in fourth.
Spanish international winger Santi Cazorla gave the hosts the lead after 11 minutes, but Jonathan de Guzman equalized in the 27th.
Villarreal were ahead again through a Giuseppe Rossi penalty on 35 minutes and Brazilian international Nilmar notched his 10th league goal of the campaign to seal victory after the break.
MTN SPLASH N2.65B ON NIGERIA LEAGUE. Grab Title Sponsor Of NPL League
Mobile Telecommunications Network Nigeria, MTN Nigeria, has landed the title rights to sponsor the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) for the next four years, SuperSport.com can report.
After two days of deliberation on the bidding proposals from the two bidders, the bid committee of the Premier League on Thursday named MTN Nigeria as its new title sponsor.
The two bidding firms were Globacom Nigeria Limited and Total Promotions Limited – representing the eventual winner of the bidding process, MTN.
After two days of deliberation on the bidding proposals from the two bidders, the bid committee of the Premier League on Thursday named MTN Nigeria as its new title sponsor.
The two bidding firms were Globacom Nigeria Limited and Total Promotions Limited – representing the eventual winner of the bidding process, MTN.
NPL bid committee chairman, Shehu Gusau, said that the process arrived at picking MTN was solely based on transparency and fair play.
He also made it clear that MTN won the bid based its superior sum of N2.6 billion in its bid proposal. “Total Promotions, who are representing MTN, have won the title rights of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) for the next four years. They will be committing N2.65 billion into the title sponsorship over years,” Gusau, who is vice chairman of the top-flight in
Nigeria, said.
He also made it clear that MTN won the bid based its superior sum of N2.6 billion in its bid proposal. “Total Promotions, who are representing MTN, have won the title rights of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) for the next four years. They will be committing N2.65 billion into the title sponsorship over years,” Gusau, who is vice chairman of the top-flight in
Nigeria, said.
However, it was learnt that the losing firm, Globacom, put in a bid with less than N1 billion compared to the N2.65 billion by winning firm.
Globacom until Thursday had been the title sponsor of the NPL before it pulled out of the deal in December 2009 citing unfavourable circumstances.
The announcement of a new title sponsor ends several weeks of speculation on the identity of the sponsorship deal.
Globacom until Thursday had been the title sponsor of the NPL before it pulled out of the deal in December 2009 citing unfavourable circumstances.
The announcement of a new title sponsor ends several weeks of speculation on the identity of the sponsorship deal.
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