The City boss was seen to grab, shove and gesticulate wildly at the striker as the pair clashed in front of stunned team-mates at the club’s Carrington base.
The 22-year-old Italian striker was then seen being restrained and led away by a member of staff, believed to be Massimo Battara, in shocking scenes as City prepared their FA Cup third round clash with Watford.
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| Face off: Mario Balotelli and Roberto Mancini (right) squared off in training |
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| Push and pull: Mancini and Balotelli raged at each other |
Twitter reaction
Gary
Neville: Pics of RM and MB not great but these things may happen from
time to time. I just don’t get the lack of privacy. That does need
sorting.
Louis Saha: No Mariooo. No Mariooo. Noooo #balotelli
Louis Saha: No Mariooo. No Mariooo. Noooo #balotelli
Mancini
reacted furiously following a tackle from Balotelli on a team-mate said
to be Scott Sinclair, once again putting the Italian’s future at the
club in doubt.
One onlooker told Sky Sports News: ‘Mancini ran at
him – he was furious,’ said the onlooker. ‘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.’
After the incident,
Balotelli drove off in his camouflage Bentley GT. He has a history of
irritating his manager, leading to much speculation he will be sold.
When
Balotelli was sent off against Arsenal last season, his furious manager
intimated that it was the end of the line for the striker.
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| Back inside: Mancini stomps off furiously |
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| Anger: Mancini was furious after a mistimed tackle from Balotelli |
After that game Mancini said: ‘I can continue to play with Mario on the pitch. Every time, we risk one sent off, like today.’
Then
asked for how long he would put up with the striker’s antics, he said:
‘I am finished. We have six games and he will not play in the next six
games (because of suspension).’
Other
incidents which antagonized his manager include the time he was caught
throwing darts at youth team players at the training ground and him
staying up late before the Manchester derby – after letting off
fireworks in his house.
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| Led off: The striker was pulled away from Mancini by a coach |
The
drama comes just after former team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic claimed
Balotelli offered City the best chance of retaining their Barclays
Premier League title.
He believes Mancini should continue to take the rough with the smooth and persist with the precociously talented striker.
‘If
you ever spend any time with Mario then you love Mario,’ said the
31-year-old Swede, who has been no stranger to controversy himself
during a 13-year career at the highest level.
‘Even
though he is not always the easiest player for the coach to manage,
speak to any of his old coaches like Jose (former Inter and current Real
Madrid boss Mourinho) and they will tell you when you work with Mario
you always have a smile on your face.’
Ibrahimovic,
who has netted 18 goals in just 16 games for Paris Saint-Germain this
season, believes that Balotelli can inspire City to claw back the
seven-point lead Manchester United currently hold over them in the title
race.
Crunch: Balotelli’s tackle left a player on the floor (left), believed to be Scott Sinclair
‘He
is a special player and a special talent,’ added the former Milan,
Barcelona and Juventus man. ‘When Mario plays like he can he will hurt
any team in the world.
‘Manchester City
are already a way behind Manchester United in the Premier League – but
if any player can retain the title for them it is Mario. All the class
that Manchester City have I would still say Mario is the most capable.’
Stand off: City players watch on as the pair engage in their spat
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| Tempers: Mancini was angry after a mis-timed tackle by Balotelli |
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| Mancini shouted at his compatriot |
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| Held back: Balotelli was unimpressed with Mancini’s yelling |
Ibrahimovic
– who scored a stunning long-range overhead kick against England in
November – also revealed that he helped Mancini to nurture Balotelli
when the trio were together at the San Siro.
‘I
tried to help Mario because it is true he does sometimes make decisions
in the moment – but that is his personality,’ he added.
‘Roberto
will know the same as me that the way to get the best out of Mario is
to love him. That is what he will react best to – and if they can get
Mario playing at his best then Manchester City still have a big chance.’
 |
| Leaving the scene: Balotelli left in his camouflage car |
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