Why always Mario? City stars step in after Balotelli wars with Richards in new bust-up



Mario Balotelli was at the centre of another bust-up with one of his own team-mates on Thursday.



The fiery Manchester City striker was involved in a furious spat with Micah Richards at their Carrington training ground.



In what is another embarrassing episode involving the controversial Italian, the pair had to be restrained by their team-mates in front of stunned onlookers - and waiting photographers.



Bust up: Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini steps in to break up a warring team-mates Micah Richards and Mario Balotelli

Sportsmail understands that the row was triggered by a stray pass from full-back Richards during Thursday's training session ahead of this weekend's crunch Barclays Premier League clash with Arsenal.



Balotelli is believed to have reacted with a comment aimed at the defender, who then lost his cool and attempted to launch himself at the striker.



Several players, including James Milner, Yaya Toure and captain Vincent Kompany, had to battle to keep the two players apart.



They were then brought together by manager Roberto Mancini for a stern lecture in front of team-mates, who are now fully accustomed to Balotelli's unpredictable behaviour.



Flash-point: Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany steps in to restrain fiery Italian Balotelli as Yaya Toure and James Milner attempt to hold off an angry Richards (R)



Richards attempted to play down the row on Twitter afterwards by posting: ‘Me & mario are all good! these things happen in training & we shook hands after. it shows passion! #ctid’

After suffering their first defeat of their Premier League campaign at Chelsea on Monday, this is the last thing boss Mancini needs ahead of Sunday's home clash against the Gunners.



Calm down: Milner struggles to stop Richards as things get heated quickly at Carrington

And it is just the latest in a long line of controversies in which Balotelli has been at the centre of since his arrival from Inter Milan last year.



He is currently living in a hotel in the middle of Manchester after his multi-million pound country house caught fire when his friends set off fireworks inside the bathroom before the incredible 6-1 victory over United in the derby.



Nothing to see here: City boss Mancini attempts to play down the incident after spotting photographers

And before Monday's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea, Balotelli broke a curfew by staying out until 1am on Sunday morning at an Indian restaurant.



This is certainly not the first time that Balotelli has been involved in a clash with a team-mate at City's training base.



Hands on: England goalkeeper Joe Hart gets involved to bring calm to the situation but Richards is still seething

He infamously scrapped with former defender Jerome Boateng after reacting badly to a challenge and was also photographed clashing with Kompany.



City face the problem of photographers having easy access to their Carrington base because a public footpath runs by the side of the pitches. The club are currently putting up fences to attempt to keep out the cameras.