Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti refused to comment yesterday amid media reports Rafael Benitez was to be sacked as coach following his outburst over signings.

"I prefer not to talk today to avoid the risk of creating controversies," Moratti told reporters.

Gazzetta dello Sport reported yesterday that Benitez, only in the role for six months, was being removed with Zenit St Petersburg coach Luciano Spalletti favorite to take over the World, European and Italian champions.

On Sunday, club owner Moratti had labelled comments by Benitez after Inter's World Club Cup win on Saturday as "inappropriate".

The coach told a news conference in Abu Dhabi that Inter had to make signings or else he would speak with his agent about his future.

Its fifth trophy this year had appeared to have secured the Spaniard's job after a sticky domestic spell but with Inter not playing again until Serie A resumes on January 6, Moratti has time to make a decision.

Former Liverpool coach Benitez only took over in June after treble-winning Jose Mourinho left for Real Madrid.

Injury crisis

Benitez asked for new players for the start of the campaign but no signings materialized and a subsequent injury crisis has contributed to champion Inter lying 13 points behind leader AC Milan at Serie A's mid-season break.

Meanwhile, Edinson Cavani's late goal gave Napoli a 1-0 home win over Lecce on Sunday to move within three points of Milan.

AC Milan leads with 36 points, three ahead of Napoli and Lazio. Napoli is second on goal difference.

Juventus missed the chance to move level with Napoli and Lazio by drawing 1-1 with Chievo Verona after Sergio Pellissier scored a late equalizer. Lazio beat Udinese 3-2 after Udinese defender Cristian Zapata headed into his own net after the visitors had twice equalized.

Also on Sunday, it was: Bari 1, Palermo 1; Catania 1, Brescia 0 and Parma 0, Bologna 0.