Roberto Mancini reveals all behind training ground bust-up with Mario Balotelli and the striker's exit from Manchester City

Daily Mail | October 14, 2016

Roberto Mancini has broken his silence on the reasons behind his infamous training ground bust up with Mario Balotelli at Manchester City in 2013.

Mancini was caught on camera squaring up to the Italian forward and grabbing him by the collar.

And now the former City boss has explained what got him so annoyed with Balotelli and why he eventually left the club that summer.

The dramatic pictures show Roberto Mancini and Mario Balotelli squaring up in 2013

Mancini says he was angry with Balotelli for going in for a hard tackle onu00a0Gael Clichy — Mancini says he was angry with Balotelli for going in for a hard tackle on Gael Clichy

Mancini told his players to go easy onu00a0Clichy as he was returning from injury - but Balotelli went in hardu00a0 — Mancini told his players to go easy on Clichy as he was returning from injury - but Balotelli went in hard

The pair had to be separated by members of the coaching team after they squared upu00a0 — The pair had to be separated by members of the coaching team after they squared up

Speaking to French newspaper L'Equipe, Mancini said: 'In a training session, I said to players not to make stupid tackles on Gael Clichy because he was just coming back from injury.