Massimo Moratti says all will become clear "in the coming days" after stepping down from his role as honorary president of Inter Milan on Thursday.
A brief statement released by his Internazionale Holding Srl group, which detains nearly 30 percent of the Serie A club's shares, announced on Thursday afternoon that Moratti had tendered his resignation, ending almost 20 years of direct involvement with the Nerazzurri.
Moratti was not present at the San Siro for Inter's 0-0 draw with St Etienne in the Europa League on Thursday night, instead watching the game at his brother's home in Milan. Before arriving there, he said just a few words to the waiting journalists which suggest a lot more is to come.
"You'll find out why in the coming days," Sky Sport Italia reports him as saying. Moratti's decision came amid tension with current president Erick Thohir and coach Walter Mazzarri as results on the field have not lived up to the club's expectations.
"I'd rather not have heard about this," said former Inter midfielder Nicola Berti to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "If it's because of what's happened in recent days, then I'd say it's the stupidest thing that could happen. It's most pointless and damaging to Inter. As an Interista, I'm furious.
"It doesn't do any good for sure, and that's without mentioning how embarrassing it all is. Inter are Inter and they have an image to defend. It was quite clear that the marriage between Moratti and Thohir was much more of an enforced one than they wanted us to believe.
"It should have gone on for a bit longer than it has, though, because who pays for this separation in the end? Inter. Only Inter. Given how the situation already is, I don't think there was any need.
"But certainly it's not all down to what has happened in recent days. None of us can know how the relationship between Moratti and Thohir really is. We can only judge based on what we see, and I'm convinced that something could have been done to avoid a mess like this."
Both sides of the story are likely to be told in the next few days, but Thohir insists his relationship with Moratti and his family was, is and will remain good.
"I respect Moratti's decision," he told Mediaset television. "I've spoken with him and met him today. The relationship between our families does not change. He wants to support me and I think the media can ask him that too.
"At the same time, as the president of this club, I have got to look at the way some things are being run, some of the procedures within the club."
That may be a step back from his previously resolute backing of Mazzarri, who was heavily criticised by Moratti at the weekend, potentially leading to the unexpected break-up of the Inter family.
"Thohir's already said what needs to be said, I'm not going to open my mouth about club issues," Mazzarri said after a 0-0 draw on Thursday night which saw large sections of the Inter crowd turn against him. "At this moment, more than ever before, it is only the results that matter."
Inter travel to Cesena this weekend for the first league match in nearly 20 years for which Moratti will have no official role to play. A chapter in Inter's history is over, according to former defender Marco Materazzi.
......Many Thanks for The Memories You Will Be Missed !!! #legendforever #MM #moratti #inter #amala... http://t.co/KA6IeLY1wP
- Marco Materazzi (@iomatrix23) October 23, 2014