Mario Balotelli in training ground bust-up with Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini

Mario Balotelli's Manchester City future looks to be in serious doubt after pictures emerged of a training ground bust-up with manager Roberto Mancini.

The duo reportedly had to be separated at City's Carrington training ground on Thursday morning following a heated row.

Mancini is understood to have reacted angrily to a tackle Balotelli made on team-mate Scott Sinclair during a training session.

In the sequence of pictures, Mancini is seen striding towards Balotelli, pointing in an aggressive manner.

He is then seen to grab hold of Balotelli's orange bib in an apparent act of fury before the young striker is dragged away by a member of City's coaching staff.

Balotelli, who was seen leaving the training ground shortly after, has courted controversy on and off the pitch since arriving in England in August 2010.

Mancini has repeatedly defended the 22-year-old but this latest incident could prove to be the final straw for the City boss.