Mutu fires his Romanian agents

"Mutu came to our office and told us of his decision not to cooperate with our company any more," agent Gheorghe Popescu told Reuters. "He did not give any reason for his decision."

The player, represented until Monday by the Popescu and Becali Sport Management company, said he had decided "to give other people a chance" to represent him.

The 25-year-old was banned for seven months by the English Football Association last week for failing a drugs test.

Giovani Becali, one of Mutu's now dismissed agents, confirmed last month that Mutu had taken cocaine and that Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho asked for the doping test because he had suspected the Romanian striker.

Popescu said he had not expected Mutu's decision and that there was no sign of discontent during the past two weeks, when Mutu's agents assisted him during the English FA hearings and tried to restore his relations with Chelsea.

"I told him (Mutu) that we respect his decision, that we'll help him if he needs it in the future, and we'll end our obligations to him by handing him the English FA's final ban document," Popescu said.

Unconfirmed reports in Romania said Mutu had already signed a new deal with an Italian management company led by Alessandro Moggi, son of Juventus managing director Luciano Moggi.

Mutu asked earlier on Monday to be able to train with his former club Dinamo Bucharest.

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A Romanian Football Federation spokesman said national coach Anghel Iordanescu had also suggested that Mutu could train with his squad.

Mutu played 41 matches and scored 29 goals for Dinamo between 1998 and 2000, before moving to Inter Milan. He also played for Verona and Parma in Serie A.

"Mutu had a beautiful time at Dinamo," Andone said. "He won the (league) title with us so it seemed a normal choice to make a fresh start where he felt good."

The national federation spokesman said no decision had been taken but Iordanescu had told Mutu that no one would wear his number 10 shirt until his ban expires on May 18, 2005.