Internazionale coach Roberto Mancini could reverse his surprise decision to quit at the end of the season according to his agent.

Mancini, who has four years left on his contract with the Serie A leaders, made the shock announcement after the Champions League last 16 defeat by Liverpool.

Inter president Massimo Moratti has yet to comment and may try to talk the 43-year-old out of his decision. Mancini took training as usual without talking to reporters.

His agent Giorgio De Giorgis, as stunned as anyone by Mancini's decision, indicated that it may not be final.

Asked if he thought Mancini could be persuaded to stay, De Giorgis told Italian media: "This is a real possibility and I hope he remains at Inter.

"President Moratti respects him and Mancini respects the president therefore I hope he stays."

Former Chelsea and Porto coach Jose Mourinho is the media's favourite to take over the Italian champions.

Mancini gave no reason for his decision on Tuesday, saying it was not because of the Liverpool defeat. Media reports said Mancini, who took over in 2004, also indicated he would not manage in Italy again.

Inter midfielder Esteban Cambiasso has cast doubt on the announcement despite the former Lazio and Fiorentina coach sounding definite.

"As far as I know, he said 'probably', so there's no need for reactions or comments in the heat of the moment," Cambiasso told reporters.

Former Dinamo Bucharest coach Walter Zenga, who kept goal for Inter and Italy in the 1980s and early 90s, said Mancini might change his mind, but added his own interest in the job.

"Mancini spoke in a bitter moment. I am convinced everything will go back to the way it was. If they call me I could not say 'no'. I gave 22 years of my life to Inter," Zenga was quoted as saying on www.gazzetta.it.

Earlier this term Italian media reports said Inter owner Moratti had held informal talks with Mourinho but the club and the Portuguese denied it.

Mourinho, who left Chelsea in September, did say managing in Italy appealed to him and that he admired Moratti for his work at Inter.

"I respect him very much as a person that loves football and his club deeply," Mourinho told Gazzetta dello Sport last week.

"However, I have never talked to him."

If Mancini's decision is definite, Fiorentina's Cesare Prandelli would also be a candidate to take over while Liverpool's Rafael Benitez has had his problems with the club's owners this season.

The Spaniard gave the usual line of being happy at Liverpool when asked in Tuesday's post-match news conference if the Inter job interested him.

Inter may have to move fast if Mourinho is their first choice. The colourful tactician has been linked with Barcelona and Milan, whose respective coaches Frank Rijkaard and Carlo Ancelotti are under pressure after disappointing seasons.

Reuters