Roberto Mancini plays down training ground spat with Mario Balotelli and insists striker still has Manchester City future

Roberto Mancini insists Mario Balotelli still has a future at Manchester City despite his explosive bust-up with the striker.

Mancini was pictured grappling with the temperamental 22-year-old during a City training session on Thursday, with staff and players forced to intervene.

The City boss, however, has played down the incident and refuted claims Balotelli will now be shown the door.

"I think the photos show the worst of what happened," said the Italian. "It was nothing special. There was no fight, this was not true.

"We were playing a game and Mario kicked his team-mate. I said to him, 'Go inside, leave the pitch'. He said no and I took his shirt and pushed him out of the pitch.

"This is what really happened, nothing special."

And asked if he had finally lost patience with Balotelli, who he has continually defended despite a number of controversies, Mancini said: "No, I don't change my thoughts for this.

"I will give him another 100 chances if possible, if I think he can change. I am here for this.

"Sometimes I am upset with him because he doesn't everything for this, but I give him another chance, sure. He is 22 and he can do a mistake."