Roberto Mancini has lifted the lid on the training ground spat that led to Mario Balotelli’s Manchester City exit.

“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,” Mancini told L’Equipe.

“I grabbed him 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.