Internazionale president Massimo Moratti will meet with Roberto Mancini on Thursday to get an explanation as to why the Nerazzurri coach intends to quit the club at the end of the season.

Mancini announced his decision to leave Inter in the summer in the immediate aftermath of the club's Champions League defeat to Liverpool despite having four years left on his contract.

The news came as a shock to Moratti.

"Mancini's decision surprised me," he said. "We will meet on Thursday morning and we will see."

Moratti has already had a brief chat with Mancini and revealed he offered words of support to the former Lazio boss.

"We had a quick exchange," added Moratti.

"I told him that there's a contract, that I have confidence in him but we must now see if he has confidence in himself.

"We must focus on what his wishes are and hence we will have this meeting tomorrow."

Mancini has led Inter to the last two Serie A crowns and the club are on course for a treble as they lead Serie A by six points from Roma.

His agent is hoping the 43-year-old will have a change of heart and remain at the San Siro beyond the summer.

Giorgio De Giorgis said: "I do not exclude at all the possibility that he will remain at Inter. I hope he does.

"Club president Massimo Moratti values him and he values the president, so I hope he will stay. We must understand the reasons behind this unexpected decision."

Reports in Italy have been quick to link Jose Mourinho with the post.

However, Moratti insists he has not considered any candidates yet.

"I don't have any alternatives to Mancini in mind," he said. "It would not be right on Mancini."

Mourinho's personal advisor also played down talk of the former Chelsea boss taking over at Inter, although he did insist the Portuguese will be in charge of a top European club next season.

Eladio Parames said: "As far as I am aware he has not spoken to the Inter president.

"What happens is that his background speaks for itself so it's natural that the media keep writing, talking and speculating about him.

"Papers mention the Liverpool job too, but Mourinho has had no contact there either.

"Definitely he will be managing a top-flight club in Europe next season. I can not tell you which club it will be, but he will be back, for sure."

Mancini's announcement left the Inter squad stunned on Wednesday, with some struggling to digest the news.

"I didn't know anything about this," said striker Julio Cruz. "But then again in the heat of the moment many things are said.

"Obviously it's his decision and I don't know what he is thinking, it's difficult to say something.

"We just have to look ahead and end the campaign in the best possible way."

Argentina midfielder Esteban Cambiasso is hopeful Mancini will reconsider.

"We must remain calm and not make any comments on the spur of the moment," he said.

"From what I heard, he said the word 'probably', so we will try to rest and then think about this some more in the coming days when we've all cooled down.

"We are disappointed just as he is."

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