Mario Balotelli provoked a furious reaction from his Adana Demirspor boss Vincenzo Montella as the two almost came to blows on the pitch after Saturday’s Turkish Super Lig game.
The incident erupted on the pitch following the final whistle of a 1-0 Turkish Super Lig victory over Umraniye, with the striker appearing to make a comment after the game to Montella which appeared to provoke the coach to the point where he had to be restrained from the striker.
Balotelli – who is never shy on speaking his mind and sparking controversy – made a comment to Montella, who then turned around and attempted to lunge at the 32-year-old and they were only separated by last-ditch intervention by staff on the pitch.
It is not the first time that Balotelli has had a run-in with his manager, with an infamous incident with his former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini during a training session seeing the two squaring up to each other before the striker was removed from the pitch.
Balotelli has often made the headlines for his eccentric behaviour off the pitch - including handing out money in the centre of Manchester and accidentally setting fire to his bathroom.
The striker had been enjoying a true return to form in Turkey, netting 19 goals last season following his switch from Italian side Monza. It was the second-best goal return from Balotelli in a single season, behind his 26 strikes in the 2017-18 campaign at French club Nice.
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That had prompted talk that the 32-year-old could return to the Italian national squad; Balotelli's winner against England in the 2014 group stage remains Italy's last goal during the World Cup finals, while the 2006 champions haven't played a knockout game in the competition since that year's final.
Balotelli hasn't made a senior Italy appearance since 2018. However, he was called up by Mancini for a training camp earlier this year off the back of his form in the Super Lig. After the nation missed out on qualifying for this year’s World Cup following a shock playoff defeat by North Macedonia, prompting Mancini's own mother questioned the decision to leave out Balotelli.
In his Sky Sport interview, Balotelli revealed he had not spoken to Mancini about the matter. "I am happy that he will remain in charge because he has already won the Euros," he added. "People are disappointed, but we can't forget what the coach has achieved."
