Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has confirmed Rafael Benitez will be presented as the club's new coach on Wednesday morning. The Spaniard has been in talks with the European champions since his six-year spell as Liverpool manager was ended by mutual consent last week.
"We have agreed the final details, which were not important things. Tomorrow we shall present Rafa Benitez," Moratti said in a statement on the Inter website.
The Inter president went on to tell reporters that "all that is needed now is a countersignature".
Moratti added that negotiations with Benitez had not taken place in person but revealed the Spaniard would fly to Milan in time for tomorrow's presentation.
"I think Benitez is not in Italy and will arrive for the presentation," he said. "Tomorrow we will tell you when he will be presented."
Moratti revealed yesterday that a deal with the 50-year-old had been "more or less done" and had been confident the details would be finalised on today.
Reports in Italy had suggested Benitez would sign a three-year deal worth five million euros per season, but Moratti dismissed those claims as "off track" in terms of "duration and the amount".
Benitez may wish to take his Anfield assistant Mauricio Pellegrino, goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero and fitness coach Paco de Miguel with him to the San Siro, with Italian Amedeo Carboni - who played under Benitez as a midfielder at Valencia - also touted as a possible backroom addition.
Benitez still had four years to run on his Liverpool contract but left after the Reds could only manage seventh place in the Premier League last season.
Liverpool also suffered early exits in the Champions League, FA Cup and Carling Cup.
Benitez had previously been linked with Real Madrid, but they filled their managerial vacancy by wooing Jose Mourinho from Inter after he took them to the treble last season.
RAFA BENITEZ FACTFILE:
1960: Born Madrid, April 4th.
1981: Leaves Real Madrid after seven years without ever playing for the first team and joins Third Division Parla.
1983: Part of the Parla side which gains promotion to Segunda B.
1986: After retiring as a player, appointed to Real Madrid's coaching staff, starting off with the juniors and working up to the Under-19s.
1994: Leads Real Madrid's B team to seventh in Spain's Second Division and ends the season as assistant to first-team coach Vicente del Bosque.
1995: Appointed coach of Valladolid but sacked after 23 games with the team bottom of the Primera Division.
1996: Takes over at Osasuna in second division, but lasts just nine games after recording one win.
1997: Joins Second Division outfit Extremadura and leads them to promotion.
1999: Extremadura relegated from top flight after play-off defeat to Villarreal.
1999-2000: Quits Extremadura to take a year's sabbatical to study coaching in Italy and England.
2000: Appointed boss of Second Division Tenerife and leads them to promotion.
2001: Replaces Hector Cuper at Valencia and leads the club to their first Spanish league title in 31 years.
2004:Leads Valencia to their first ever double, lifting the league title and the UEFA Cup.
June 1st- Valencia announce that Benitez and the club have agreed to part by mutual consent.
June 16th- Confirmed as Liverpool manager on five-year contract.
2005: May- Wins Champions League in his first season as Liverpool come from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 before beating AC Milan on penalties in Istanbul.
2007: February- American duo Tom Hicks and George Gillett buy the club from David Moores.
May- Benitez's side reach the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons but lose to AC Milan in Athens.
2008: Relations between Benitez and the Anfield hierarchy sour suddenly with doubts over the Spaniard's long-term future.
2009: March 18th- Benitez signs a new contract after months of uncertainty, keeping him at Anfield until 2014. Liverpool finish second to Manchester United in the Premier League.
2010: April 29th- After previous early exits from the Champions League and FA Cup, Liverpool are knocked out of the Europa League at the semi-final stage by Atletico Madrid.
May 9th- A goalless draw on the final day at relegated Hull confirms Liverpool finish the Barclays Premier League season in seventh - their worst position since 1999.
June 3rd- Benitez leaves his job as Liverpool manager by mutual consent.
June 8th- Inter Milan confirm an agreement has been reached for Benitez to become their new coach, with the Spaniard to be presented on June 9th