Roberto Mancini originally said he would quit Inter in March

Inter Milan have sacked coach Roberto Mancini, who has been linked with the vacant manager's job at Chelsea.

Despite leading Inter to three successive Serie A titles, Mancini's future had been in doubt since March.

After Inter's Champions League defeat to Liverpool, Mancini said he would quit the club at the end of the season, but changed his mind a day later.

Inter said on Thursday the 43-year-old Mancini was dismissed because of his comments after the Liverpool defeat.

Mancini's exit increases speculation that the Italian could become the next manager at Chelsea following the departure of Avram Grant on Saturday.

Jose Mourinho has long been linked with the Inter coaching job and the former Blues boss is the firm favourite to replace Mancini.

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Club president Massimo Moratti and Mancini had met on Tuesday, but the club made no comment for 48 hours following those talks.

"FC Internazionale have informed Roberto Mancini that he has been sacked as coach," said the Inter statement.

"In particular because of the comments made by the coach at the end of the Inter-Liverpool match."

Mancini joined Inter in 2004 and as well as those three Serie A titles he also guided the club to successive Italian Cup victories in 2005 and 2006.

On Wednesday Mancini's agent Maurizio De Giorgis told BBC Sport: "He no longer works for Internazionale. He's available for work if he gets a phone call."

Before moving to Inter, Mancini had previously coached Fiorentina and Lazio.