MX23RW : Saturday, January 4 11:27:15| >> :120:5283:5283:

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini: 'I didn't fight with Mario Balotelli'

Mancini plays down Balotelli scrap
© PA Photos
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini insists that he did not "fight" with Mario Balotelli and says that the striker will not be disciplined by the club after their training ground bust-up.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has attempted to calm the furore surrounding his training ground bust-up with striker 6Mario Balotelli.

The Italian boss reportedly accused the 22-year-old of being an "impossible lunatic" and grabbing the forward's training bib after he allegedly launched into a dangerous tackle on teammate Scott Sinclair yesterday.

"It wasn't bad things like in the newspapers," Mancini said in a press conference. "We were playing a game and Mario kicked his teammate and I said to him to go inside, leave the pitch. He said no, I take his shirt and push him out of pitch. That was it. That is what happened. Nothing special."

When asked if he lost his temper, Mancini said: "No. For two seconds, yes. Three, four seconds later no. He didn't want to leave pitch. No fight, no true. This don't change anything on my thoughts. These are things that can happen."

The 48-year-old also insisted that he has no intention of selling Balotelli and that the Italy international will not face any disciplinary action from the club.

ID:62291: cacheID:62291:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:1605:
Written by
Danielle Joynson
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Mario Balotelli looks towards manager Roberto Mancini as he is substituted in the Manchester derby on December 9, 2012
Read Next:
Mancini blasted "lunatic" Balotelli?
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool18143145172845
2Arsenal19116238172139
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
4Chelsea19105438231535
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1995532211132
6Manchester CityMan City199463226631
7Bournemouth198652923630
8Fulham197842825329
9Aston Villa198562831-329
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton196942928127
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1973941281324
12Brentford197393335-224
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham196582335-1223
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd196492126-522
15Crystal Palace194872027-720
16Everton183871524-917
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Ipswich TownIpswich1936101833-1515
19Leicester CityLeicester1935112242-2014
20Southampton1913151239-276


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!