Roberto Mancini and Mario Balotelli are said to have had another bust-up after Manchester City relinquished their lead to draw 1-1 with Arsenal on Sunday.
The temperamental Italian forward was left on the bench for the crunch fixture, with Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero starting for the Premier League champions.
Balotelli did get a chance to enter the play after 85 minutes, replacing Aguero towards the end of the game.
The pair have had clashes before, with Balotelli getting sent off against Arsenal last season at the Emirates Stadium and feeling the anger of Mancini after the dismissal.
It is believed that Balotelli confronted his trainer after the game on Sunday, and Mancini pushed the striker in the tunnel, but the City manager has refused to exaggerate the incident.
“I don’t remember what happened after the game,” Mancini is quoted as saying by Mirror Football.
“I don’t know if he was asking me something. That’s not important. Mario thinks it was important, probably. I don’t know. Tomorrow I’ll ask him.”
Balotelli has recently returned to action after laser surgery on his eye, but is by no means guaranteed a place in City’s line-up due to the strength in depth the squad have in attack.
By Gareth McKnight
