Balotelli, Boateng in training bust-up

Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli and Jerome Boateng were involved in a training ground bust-up on Friday.

The altercation occurred when Balotelli reacted angrily to a challenge made by the German defender.

Boateng then grabbed Balotelli by the throat before the pair was separated by team-mates.

Balotelli was later seen embracing Boateng, before City boss Roberto Mancini took the Italian 20-year-old aside for a private discussion.

“We are not remotely concerned by this,” a Manchester City spokesperson said.

“It is a reflection of the competitive edge the players apply to training every day. It only lasted for a few a seconds and it’s not something we are concerned about.”

Balotelli arrived at City in the close season with a reputation for a volatile on-field personality. He has already been sent off in the Premier League for lashing out at an opponent against West Bromwich Albion last month.

The incident casts further doubt on the harmony within Mancini’s squad after Emmanuel Adebayor and Vincent Kompany had a heated on-field exchange against Wolverhampton in October.