Balotelli, Boateng in bust-up

London - Controversial Italian striker Mario Balotelli and Manchester City teammate Jerome Boateng were involved in a training ground bust-up, it was claimed on Friday.

The Manchester Evening News released pictures of the confrontation between the duo, which allegedly came about after Balotelli reacted angrily to a tackle from Boateng.

Balotelli, who joined Roberto Mancini's team from Inter Milan in the summer, was later seen making up with former Hamburg star Boateng after being separated by teammates.

Mancini has had to regularly play down reports of disharmony in his expensively-assembled Eastlands squad this season where a number of big name players have had to be patient for an opportunity to stake a regular place in the first team.

Striker Emmanuel Adebayor and Vincent Kompany had an on-field row during a defeat by Wolves in October.