Felipe Melo says that Roberto Mancini must stay at Inter Milan amid growing uncertainty surrounding the coach's future.
Mancini is reportedly unhappy about the lack of funds made available for transfers this summer and reported differences of opinion over transfer strategy with the club's new Chinese owners have led to rumours he might walk away from the Nerazzurri.
Melo, who was signed by Mancini 12 months ago from Galatasaray, hopes it does not come to that.
"Mancini is the first to suffer when he doesn't win, but it's only right that he stays with us," the Brazilian midfielder told Mediaset.
"I came to Inter because they are one of the biggest clubs in the world and I came here for Mancini.
"My intention is to stay here because it's a dream. My family's happy here in Milan and we're all Inter fans."
The uncertainty surrounding Mancini's future, with less than a month to go before the start of the new Serie A season, is not affecting the players, though, with Melo setting his sights high for the coming season.
"If you put to one side what's going on externally, we're not worried," Melo said. "We've got our minds focused on the work we are doing. Last year we improved our league position and got back into Europe.
"We were a new team then and this year we know each other a lot better and we can do even better. We're working well, we have no regrets and we just need to find consistency."
Mancini was due to meet with representatives of the Nerazzurri's new owners, the Suning Group, following a friendly draw with Estudiantes on Wednesday night, but that meeting did not take place, fuelling speculation which the former Manchester City manager says is and always has been unfounded.
"It's you talking about me resigning, not me," Mancini said, reports Mediaset. "I've never said that there is any tension and that I'm going to leave. I'm here to improve Inter and I give everything I've got to succeed.
"I'm sorry that we don't have many players right now and this is a problem because preseason has been very tiring so far. We don't have much chance to make changes."