Franco Baresi is set to leave Fullham less than three months after being appointed director of football director at the club.

According to reports, the Milan legend is to returnto Italy following a brief and ultimately unsatisfactory reign at the west-London club.

Baresi was appointed on a six-month contract by the Fulham’s chairman Mohamed Al Fayed but his arrival had a destabilising effect on the club with players talking of a power struggle between him and club coach Jean Tigana.

Fayed admitted that he appointed Baresi in the hope of raising the club’s profile.

‘I wanted to have a legendary name such as his linked to Fulham but mainly I wanted him to repeat the role he had at Milan, where he scouted worldwide for players,’ said Fayed.

Fulham and Holland goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar told The Guardian: ‘There is no problem any more. Baresi has gone and it is only Tigana now.

‘Tigana has won the battle, but all the players like working with him and it is not a problem.’ ÿ