Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini plays down his row with Mario Balotelli and insists the striker still has a future with him by claiming he will give him another '100 chances' at the club.

The Italian pair were pictured grappling on the training ground in an apparent bust-up on Thursday in the latest in a long line of incidents involving the controversial striker.

Mancini took exception to a bad tackle from Balotelli on teammate Scott Sinclair during a training match but the City manager played it down yesterday.

He asked the 22-year-old striker to leave the pitch after the tackle but when he refused the pair exchanged words in a heated argument which got physical.

"It wasn't a bad thing like are in the paper," said Mancini. "The photo is worse than what happened. We were playing a game and Mario kicked his teammate and I said to him: 'Go inside, leave the pitch'. He said 'no', and I take his shirt, I push him off the pitch.

"This is what really happened, no fight. There is no fight. The pictures look worse. For two seconds, yes I lose my temper. Because he didn't want to leave the pitch and he should leave.

"I will give him another 100 chances if it possible if I think he can change. I am here for this. Also if sometimes I am upset with him because he does everything for this.

"I give him another chance, sure, because he is 22 and he can do a mistake."

Mancini insisted it does not change Balotelli's position at the club and he could still feature on the bench for City's FA Cup third round clash against Watford.

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