Roberto Mancini: Mario Balotelli clash overblown

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini denies his spat with Mario Balotelli was a fight and says it will not affect the striker's future at the club.

Photographs showed the Italians being separated at training on Thursday.

But Mancini said of the incident with his fellow Italian: "No fight, not true. The pictures are worse.

"Mario is like this but my thoughts do not change - this is not important [for his future]. I don't change my thoughts on this, absolutely, no."

Balotelli v Mancini picture gallery

See more pictures of the apparent training ground bust-up

The latest in a series of controversies involving Balotelli saw the 22-year-old pictured in a confrontation with his manager.

The images appear to show Mancini shouting and gesticulating at his player, who has scored three goals in 21 appearances this season.

One photograph shows the pair face to face with Mancini pulling Balotelli's training bib, while in another the striker seems to be pulled away by a member of staff.

But Mancini explained: "It wasn't bad. We were playing a game, Mario kicked his team-mate and I said to him 'go inside, leave the pitch'.

"He says 'no' so I took his shirt and pushed him off the pitch. This is really what happened. Nothing special."

When asked whether he lost his temper, Mancini replied: "No. For the first two seconds, yes, but after three or four seconds he didn't want to leave the pitch. For me he should leave.

"After? No [I didn't speak to him]."

4 January 2013

Credit : BBC Sport