Former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has revealed that Italian striker Mario Balotelli left the club in 2013 due to ‘conflicts with some of his team-mates’.
The 26-year-old left City to join Serie A’s AC Milan after pictures emerged of him and Mancini going blow for blow at the training ground.
But Mancini has rubbished those claims, stating that he left because of disputes with teammates.
He did admit to one skirmish with the powerful striker, claiming that he held him by the collar after Balotelli made a strong tackle on the recovering Gael Clichy.
Speaking to“? L’Equipe, Mancini said:”? “He was in conflict with some of his team-mates because of his behaviour. He wanted to return to Italy. I was disappointed he wanted to go but he should have done a lot more in a league which is extraordinary.
À la Une ce jeudi : Mario Balotelli, l’indomptable pic.twitter.com/lc5wpOrKWO
“In a training session, I said to players not to make stupid tackles on Gael (Clichy) because he was just coming back from injury. And then, Mario made a strong tackle on him. I was furious. I grabbed by the collar wanting to push him but he is so strong physically I couldn’t move him! From seeing the pictures, you would think that we came to blows but nothing happened.”?
Balotelli then moved to Liverpool but failed to replicate his goalscoring touch from his time at City, leading him to go back on loan Milan before eventually making the switch to French side Nice.
Roberto Mancini: “I respect Balotelli a lot. I hope he understands that he has the chance to become a top player.” pic.twitter.com/iDOTa9AWlu
He has started life well in Ligue 1, scoring five goals in his first six games for the club, but that hasn’t been enough for a recall to Italy’s national side.
“If Mario today doesn’t play for the Italy side, it is his fault,”? Mancini added. “It is incredible that he is not the starting centre-forward for his national side. He is the best Italian striker of the last few years. I hope Mario understands that he has to have a different attitude and think only about football. It is not that difficult.”?
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