The already fragile Manchester City career of Mario Balotelli may have reached breaking point after the Italian striker fought with manager Roberto Mancini today.
The pair were pictured at City's Carrington training ground pushing and pulling at each others clothes before being separated by colleagues. The Italian duo also appeared to enter into a furious stand-off with one another.
The shocking scenes came as the Premier League champions prepared for their FA Cup tie with Watford this weekend.
Reports suggest the incident started when Mancini reacted to a wild tackle from Balotelli on team-mate Scott Sinclair.
The incident comes with Balotelli's future at Manchester City already under speculation.
The former Inter Milan player has been used sparingly this season, finding the net just once in the Premier League.
The Italy international was also involved in a stand-off with the club after they fined him two-weeks wages for poor discipline. The 22-year-old eventually backed down, stating "respect" for Mancini as part of his decision.
A major reason why Balotelli is currently still at Manchester City is support from the club's owner, Sheikh Mansour.
In a recent interview with the Italian sports paper Gazzetta dello Sport, Mancini revealed that the sheikh is a fan of the 22-year-old who starred at Euro 2012, believing him to be a good export for the City brand. However, negative stories such as today's incident are perhaps not the kind of image Mansour will want to project.
"Sheikh Mansour likes Balotelli because he recognises his talent and he exports the name of Manchester City all over the world," Mancini said. "We need to consider that Mario was a major investment and we are not a club that throws its money out of the window.
Mancini also explained his own close relationship with the troubled striker but warned that he expected better, leading to concerns that today's incident could spell the end of Balotelli's City career.
"I love him because we have been together for many years and I have seen him grow up, but our professional relationship is another thing and I have told Mario what I need from him.
"The time for cheap talk is over. Balotelli is 22 and I am asking for more commitment in training, a more stable private life and correct behaviour on the pitch."

Chelsea will insist that Demba Ba undergoes a medical in spite of the Newcastle United striker's chronic knee problem, with the club eager to register him in time for Saturday's FA Cup tie after last night's shock league 1-0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers.
Rafa Benitez's players were booed at Stamford Bridge following their first home defeat in almost 30 years to their west London rivals. There were suggestions that Ba was in the stadium after Alan Pardew conceded that the player had left to join Chelsea "with our blessing" following complicated negotiations over his financial package.
Benitez refused to discuss Ba specifically but said: "The club is working and hopefully we will get someone else. If we can do the business then hopefully he'll be available for the weekend."
The club hope that Ba will be available to play against Southampton in their FA Cup third round tie on Saturday. In order to do so he will have to be registered by Friday lunchtime. He did not train yesterday once Chelsea had met his buy-out clause of £7m, which was confirmed by Newcastle.
Benitez defended his decision to rest Juan Mata, Ashley Cole, Ramires and Eden Hazard , after Shaun Wright-Phillips' goal for QPR left Chelsea 14 points behind leaders Manchester United who have played one game more.
Benitez said that to be credible challengers for the title his team would have to be "almost perfect now". He added: "It's more difficult now, but I can't be thinking about how many points we need. I have to think about the next game. It's difficult for us now as we're playing so many games with a small group of players. You could say that [tonight] they couldn't get to the right level."
Chelsea hope to add to make more than just the Ba signing this window with Brazilian midfielder Taison, at Metalist Kharkiv, on their radar. There were even suggestions last night that they could move for the Manchester City defender Micah Richards, currently injured, although Benitez dismissed that prospect.
Ba failed a medical at Stoke City in January 2011 and the club passed him over that month when he subsequently signed for West Ham who did not subject Ba to a medical. In spite of those problems he never missed a training session through injury at Newcastle and has played 54 Premier League games for the club since he joined them in the summer of last year, scoring 29 goals.
The entire deal for Ba could potentially cost Chelsea more than £20m with around £15m in wages, at £80,000-a-week over four years, a further £7m to meet the buy-out clause, £2.5m which is being divided between Ba and his representatives. The deal has been squabbled over by different parties claiming to represent the player who has negotiated through his friend Alex Gontran.
The sale of Daniel Sturridge to Liverpool went through today, bringing in £12m for Chelsea. Although it is a good financial return, it leaves them short in attack with their big signing, the Colombian striker Radamel Falcao expected to happen in the summer. The club have never ruled out a move for Falcao from Atletico Madrid this month, if it could be done but there has been a general acceptance that it will be easier to do in the summer.
Officially presented as a Liverpool player today, Sturridge said that he had joined a "humungous" club. The 23-year-old said: "I am humbled and happy to be here. Brendan Rodgers said he sees me here for a long time - and I also see myself here for a long time. I've not signed here to play for a couple of years and then move on."
Benitez said that Petr Cech was still "two to three weeks" away from playing. John Terry is still yet to train with the first team and no date has been set for his return. He has bruising to the bone in his knee

From: @BBCSporf Sent: Jan 2, 2013 8:40p BREAKING: Demba Ba has completed his £7million move from Newcastle United to Chelsea, after his wife agrees personal terms with John Terry...

I wonder what terms that could be?

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini, has revealed that he came very close to signing Robin van Persie from Arsenal and admits the striker, who is now scoring for fun at rivals Manchester United, could decide where the title ends up this year.

"We were very close. He took his decision but three or four months before we were there," Mancini said, making a gesture with his hand to show how close the deal was.

Van Persie has already scored 14 goals in the league and Mancini lamented City's inability to seal the deal, as it would have given them something different in attack.

"It is clear he has changed the situation. In this moment, he is the difference. Last year we were the team that scored the most goals in the Premier League and I am very happy [with my forwards].

"But we wanted Van Persie because he is totally different from our other strikers. When you can improve your team with top players it is important [to do it]. With Van Persie we could also play with three strikers sometimes. But now we can do nothing."

The Italian however added that he expects more from his summer <( arrivals, who have not really had a great impact.

"These players can do better. Garcia started very well, he played the first game against Stoke and then he got an injury and was out for 40 days. Now he has started to play and he can be important.

"Scott is my fault because I didn't get him a big chance to play. He's fantastic because he always works hard and when he has the chance he plays 100%.