[Rossoneri7]

It’s now official – Didier Deschamps has terminated his contract with Juventus “by mutual consent.”

There was confusion for almost 24 hours over the truth of the matter, as Sky TG24 announced at midnight on Friday that the Frenchman had tended his resignation.

The club released a statement today denying that was the case, but upon leaving the Stadio Olimpico after today’s 2-0 win over Mantova, Deschamps told journalists that he had indeed quit.

Late Saturday evening Juventus released another note. “Coach and club, realising that the conditions to continue the rapport with reciprocal satisfaction are not present, have decided for an amicable separation.”

This suggests that the termination is with immediate effect, so Deschamps is not expected to even sit on the bench for the remaining two Serie B games.

Juventus are already promoted and assured the Serie B title despite their nine-point Calciopoli penalty.

It’s rumoured Deschamps will replace Gerard Houllier at Lyon, while the hot favourite to take Juve into Serie A is World Cup winner Marcello Lippi.

Football Italia

[Warchant]

Juve denies Deschamps resignation reports

TURIN, Italy (AP) - Juventus has denied an Italian TV station's claim that coach Didier Deschamps has resigned.

"Juventus has not received any notice of resignation from Didier Deschamps," the club said Saturday on its Web site. "Therefore, the coach will be on the bench as usual for today's match with Mantova."

Italy's Sky Tg24 reported late Friday that Deschamps had resigned during a meeting with club CEO Jean-Claude Blanc. According to the report, Deschamps will leave at the end of the season.

Sky acknowledged Juve's statement Saturday, but said it was just a delay tactic - perhaps until after Saturday's game when a formal, written resignation is received.

"Blanc will continue the discussions, which already began during the week, to quickly clear up the matter with (Deschamps)," the club's statement concluded.

Sky Tg24 said Saturday that Deschamps had insisted on two conditions to stay - a contract extension and more power over acquisitions - which weren't accepted.

A former Juventus player, Deschamps was hired last summer in the middle of a match-fixing trial that resulted in Juventus being relegated to Serie B.

Juventus clinched promotion to Serie A last weekend.