• Premier League

Mancini never considered axing Balotelli

ESPN staff
December 5, 2010
Balotelli has been a controversial figure since joining City © PA Photos
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Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has revealed that he never considered dropping Mario Balotelli for the clash with Bolton Wanderers - despite his training ground bust-up with Jerome Boateng on Friday.

Tempers reportedly flared between the players after Boateng caught Balotelli with a late challenge, with pictures appearing to show that the German defender grabbed hold of his team-mate's throat.

But while Boateng was omitted from the squad to face Bolton - a game City won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Carlos Tevez - Balotelli played the full 90 minutes. Now a bullish Mancini has bristled at suggestions that the Italian striker could have been left out.

"It was not a tough decision to include Balotelli," argued Mancini. "Nothing happened on Friday. It was a normal situation that happens with every team every day. And Mario played well against Bolton. All he was missing were the goals."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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