Man City Transfer News: Mario Balotelli OUT Despite Mancini's Claims?

By Joseph Dempsey / January 5, 2013

Daily Mail. On Thursday, spectacular photographs emerged of the duo grappling each other in front of astounded first team players, images showing Mancini at one point trying to drag the player off the pitch before the pair had to eventually be separated by players and staff. They were embarrassing scenes for the club and just the latest incident in a long line of misdemeanors for Balotelli. After the incident, Mancini claimed Balotelli would be given "a hundred more chances" at the club, but reports today are suggesting these comments could just have been a marketing ploy by the manager, as accepting the player is for sale would drive down his ever decreasing market value. And Mancini is believed to have finally accepted that the player will never change. The incident that fueled the amazing scenes on Thursday involved teammate Scott Sinclair, whom Balotelli is said to have fouled in practice. But the foul isn't thought to have been a mistimed or overzealous one, but rather a "horrendous, horrific slash" according to a club source. So bad was the tackle on Sinclair that Mancini became irate and felt he had to intervene. The Italian manager later stated the tackle was so bad that it would have warranted two red cards had it occurred during a Premier League game. On the field issues accounted for, Balotelli hasn't done himself any favours this season either. He has only scored once having managed to start just two games. Coupled with the fact that he is proving to be an ongoing distraction at the club, his time at the Etihad could be finished.