For the third year in a row, the title-winning manager of the Serie A - Italy’s top-flight soccer league, is leaving his spot barely a fortnight after celebrating the Scudetto.

FC Inter and manager Antonio Conte have officially parted ways by mutual consent, the club announced on their official homepage.

“FC Internazionale Milano can confirm that an agreement has been reached with Antonio Conte for the termination of his contract by mutual consent. The Club would like to thank Antonio for the extraordinary work that he has done, culminating in Inter’s 19th top-flight title. Antonio Conte will forever remain a part of our Club’s history,” reads a statement on FC Inter’s website.

The sensational news that shocked FC Inter arrived just three days after lifting the Serie A trophy, ending an 11-year wait for the Nerazzurri.

The reason for this unexpected and abrupt decision is the cutbacks necessary to balance the team’s troubled finances, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lately, FC Inter failed to pay regular salaries to its players and asked them to give up a part of their annual wage, Italian daily Il Corriere della Sera reported.

In a bid to balance the books, the club’s majority shareholder — Chinese retail giant Suning Holding Group - is looking to cut down the team’s wage bill by 20%.

According to Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport, FC Inter president Steven Zhang plans to dismantle the squad and raise to $120 million in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Needless to say, Conte did not foresee an exodus of his key players and was hoping instead to see the ownership reinforcing the squad to compete on an international level.

The former Chelsea manager did not accept to lower his winning ambition because he was sold a very different project when he joined the club in 2019, Italian Corriere dello Sport reported.

The 5-years-old tactician revealed to his inner circle that he felt abandoned by FC Inter board and that he did not want to live a season with reduced ambitions, the report continues.

FC Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta tried in vain until the very end to mediate with Conte and persuade him to stay for the next season, but eventually, the two parties agreed to a mutual termination agreement.

According to Italian transfer market pundit Gianluca di Marzio, the separation cost FC Inter a $9 million severance payoff, as the Italian coach terminated his $15 million contract one year before his expiry, set for June 2022.

The unexpected divorce means FC Inter will probably sacrifice key players of the like of Maroccan right-back Achraf Hakimi (aged 22 and valued at $61 million) and  Lautaro Martínez (aged 23, with a $75 million price tag).

Additionally, FC Inter talisman Romelu Lukaku is also suddenly considered as a saleable asset as he could guarantee the Italian team a sum north of $122 million.

The Belgian striker, however, is unlikely to take the news of Conte’s departure well, as he took to his Instagram account to bid him farewell.

Thanks Antonio. You changed me as a player and made me stronger... and we won together! Winning is and it’s all that matters to you and I’m glad that I’ve had you as a coach. I’ll take your principles for the rest of my career. I owe you a lot,” wrote the former Manchester United player.

FC Inter’s management now needs to find an adequate replacement, as managers will soon be in short supply as many teams are desperate to sorts themselves out quickly before next season.

Former Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has been linked with the job, as well as former Chelsea tactician Maurizio Sarri and Bologna manager Sinisa Mihajlvoic, multiple Italian reports suggested.

According to La Stampa, Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi is FC Inter’s first option to step in for Conte, who in turn is courted by Spanish La Liga heavyweights FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, while also Tottenham Hotspurs are known to be very keen on his services in the British Premier League PINC .

However, La Repubblica reports that Conte could take a sabbatical year given a special clause in his termination agreement, which prevents him from signing for another Serie A club soon.

Finally, Conte’s departure continues a remarkable trend in FC Inter’s recent history.

Since 2010, every time the Nerazzurri won some silverware, the winning manager walked away immediately thereafter.

It happened in May 2010 with Jose Mourinho after the Champions League, in December 2010 with Rafa Benitez winning the UEFA Club World Cup, and in 2011 with Leonardo leaving after winning the Coppa Italia.

Will the next manager be able to break the spell?