Mancini plays down Balotelli behaviour

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has laughed off the latest controversy surrounding fiery striker Mario Balotelli.

The Italy forward was involved in a training ground bust-up with Micah Richards yesterday.

It was the fourth time Balotelli has been pictured fighting with team-mates, contributing to an overall chequered history in his short-time at City, which also includes three red cards and, most recently, attempts to release fireworks from inside his Cheshire home, which required the fire brigade to be called out.

Mancini made a joke of this at Carrington this morning as he tried to play down the spat with Richards.

“I ask him ’why always you?”’ said Mancini, a reference to the ’why always me’ T-shirt Balotelli revealed after scoring in the 6-1 thrashing of Manchester United at Old Trafford in October.

“He said it was because he didn’t pass the ball to him. It was a really stupid thing. It was nothing. After 10 minutes it was finished.

“I was always involved in problems on the training ground, with Trevor Francis and Liam Brady (at Sampdoria). It happens.

“When you play a match eight versus eight and you are passionate, it can happen with every team. Not every week, but often.

“Mario and Micah were boxing, but they are like twins. They are very good friends. This has happened with Mario four times now. He is the king for this. But it has happened with other players.

“However, Mario should pay attention, not just about this, but in every situation.

“We are near Christmas, at the end of the year it is very dangerous time for fireworks. It is better he stays in the hotel.”

Meanwhile, Mancini has confirmed he has requested that Yaya Toure does not join up with the Ivory Coast African Nations' Cup squad until after the Premier League trip to Wigan, presently scheduled for January 16, the week before the tournament starts.

“We hope he can remain here until Wigan if it is possible,” he said. “Wigan is one week before the start of the tournament. If he gets to the final, he and Kolo (Toure) will come back on February 12.

“For us it is a problem. I think if we are on the top when Yaya and Kolo come back, we can win the title.”

Indeed, Mancini believes the championship race has already narrowed to three teams, which do not include Sunday’s visitors Arsenal.

“At the moment, us, (Manchester) United and maybe Tottenham are the three teams that can fight for the title,” he said.

“But the season is long. Chelsea, Arsenal and, maybe, Liverpool could also try. The season is hard. We have a lot of games to play in the next 40 days.”

And Mancini also stated the intention remains to sell Carlos Tevez, who has been the subject of a loan offer from AC Milan and remains in Argentina.

“He is in Argentina playing golf. We are here,” he said. “I need to think about our team. We need to sell him in January. I hope he can find a good solution for him because he is a good player.”