ROBERTO MANCINI and Mario Balotelli were already known for their fiery relationship.
But it has now emerged that the Italian boss chased the striker down the tunnel halfway through a Manchester City for a showdown after Ballotelli received a red card.
Mancini took charge of the Cityzens in 2009 after ending his four-year spell at Inter Milan.
Just after a season into his new role, the Italian coach was joined by his former player Balotelli, who left Inter for a fee of £18.8million.
The ex-City coach often found it difficult to control his fellow Italian and from time to time things really got heated between the two of them.
The pair had an infamous training ground bust-up after Balotelli put in a firm challenge on Gael Clichy, who had just returned from injury.
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However, former team-mate Joleon Lescott has now opened up about another fight the iconic duo had – and this time it was during a City game after Balotelli was sent off.
He said on the ‘That Peter Crouch Podcast’: “Balotelli could get away with a lot more than most. His and Mancini’s relationship is different to what I have seen.
“I think Mancini had known Balotelli since he was young. He kind of had a different set-up with him.
“I remember Balotelli got sent off and he went into the dressing room and the manager followed him in there.
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“And the kitman said ‘I had to go in there and they were fighting’.
“They were fighting and the game is still going on and the manager is not even outside.
“He is literally in the changing room fighting with Mario about getting sent off. That stuff would only happen with them two and could not happen with anyone else.”
Crouch was stunned by the Italians’ furious mid-match clash.
He then replied to Lescott: “Wow I never realised what a double act they were till I spoke to you today.”
The pair’s fiery relationship continued until 2013 when Mancini went on to coach Turkish side Galatasaray and Balotelli moved to Inter’s rivals AC Milan.
They did reunite briefly in 2018 when Mancini became the Italian national team head coach and called Balotelli up for a couple of friendlies.
Meanwhile, it has emerged Mancini was also targeted by former City star Samir Nasri in another huge bust-up.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
