Mario Balotelli's remarkable penchant for embroiling himself in controversy at Manchester City has resurfaced in the form of a training-ground confrontation with his team-mate Micah Richards.
The two players clashed towards the end of a practice match preparing for Sunday's game against Arsenal. Witnesses reported that words were exchanged before the two players squared up.
Richards, in particular, seemed aggrieved by what had been said and the defender had to be restrained by other players as he sought to prolong the argument.
The incident has been described as "minor" behind the scenes at City, where it has been stressed that it was quickly forgotten once the players had returned to the dressing room. Richards and Balotelli get on well and are understood to have shaken hands.
It will, however, be added to the increasingly lengthy list of misdemeanours involving Balotelli at a time when the manager, Roberto Mancini, has spoken openly about being exasperated about the striker's apparent inability to conform.
Balotelli's form on the pitch has been undermined by a series of off-the-field incidents that has left City's management wondering how prolific he could be if he were to be more devoted to the sport. Instead, the man who revealed a "Why Always Me?" T-shirt after scoring the opening goal of the 6-1 thrashing of Manchester United is someone Mancini believes has stayed too young too long.
Balotelli, to put it into context, is currently living in a city-centre hotel after his country house was set on fire when he and some friends set off fireworks through a bathroom window on the eve of the United derby.
Among other issues, he also had to explain to Mancini before the 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on Monday why he had broken a curfew and was seen out at 1am in Manchester city centre on Sunday. While the latest incident is unlikely to lead to any form of disciplinary action, the frequency with which Balotelli finds himself in trouble demonstrates, again, why this is a player who can infuriate his manager.
There is also an unwanted sense of déjà vu for the Premier League leaders, with a number of similar incidents breaking out at City's training ground over the last year.
Balotelli himself was involved in two of them, lashing out at Jerome Boateng after reacting badly to a challenge. Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Touré were photographed rolling around the floor during another fight and, with Balotelli also photographed clashing with Vincent Kompany in May, the various issues have fuelled a perception that Mancini has assembled one of the more combustible squads in the top division.
City say this is not the case and that these kinds of incidents happen at other clubs – the difference being that photographers can get easier access at their Carrington base because of a public footpath that runs by the side of the pitches. The club are putting up new fences in an attempt to keep out the cameras.
