Mario Balotelli at the end of did this too, Manchester City Italian striker appears to have been involved in a training ground bust-up with manager Roberto Mancini.

A picture agency has released photographs it says were taken on Thursday morning of the pair having to be separated by staff and team-mates at Carrington training ground.

City have declined to comment.

It is reported Mancini stepped in after Balotelli went in too strongly on team-mate Scott Sinclair for the City boss’ liking.

Balotelli is reported to have taken exception to Mancini’s intervention, leading to the pair having to be pulled apart.

In the sequence of pictures, Mancini is seen striding towards Balotelli, pointing in an aggressive manner.

He is then seen to grab hold of Balotelli’s orange bib in an apparent act of fury before the young striker is dragged away by a member of City’s coaching staff.

A short time later, Balotelli is believed to have left the training ground at Carrington, on the outskirts of Manchester.

Balotelli’s habit of attracting negative press has seen him frequently become the subject of criticism, but Mancini has always been a firm ally of the temperamental but talented striker.

A witness told the Manchester Evening News how the pair had confronted each other during a practice match, when Balotelli reacted badly to being told off for mis-timing a challenge.

The source said: “Mancini ran at him – he was furious. He grabbed hold of him and appeared to try and throw him on the floor. It looked like Mario was too strong and he couldn’t get him down. Then all the coaches ran in to separate them but Mancini was having none of it. He kept trying to break free and have a go at him again.”

The witness said Balotelli went straight to the dressing room and drove away less than ten minutes later in his camouflaged Bentley – though he stopped briefly outside the gates to sign autographs for waiting fans.

The incident is certain to revive speculation over Balotelli’s future, despite Mancini having repeatedly rejected the idea of selling him during the January transfer window

Striker Balotelli, 22, has been involved in a series of controversies during his time at the club.

The pictures appear to show Mancini shouting and gesticulating towards Balotelli.

One photograph shows the pair face to face with Mancini pulling Balotelli’s training bib.

Another picture appears to show Balotelli being pulled away by a member of staff.

In December, Balotelli was set to take City to a tribunal over a two-week fine for missing 12 games last season because of suspensions.

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