Melbourne City FC star player Harry Novillo was placed in handcuffs and escorted by police from a Southbank apartment tower on Tuesday morning, following an altercation with his partner.

A Victoria Police spokesman confirmed that officers had responded to a verbal dispute about 3.30am but no charges had been laid against the 24-year-old French footballer, who signed a two-year deal with the A-League club in July last year.

Melbourne City player Harry Novillo Credit:Getty Images

Police are understood to have responded to a request from a 23-year-old woman, who was in a distressed state.

According to a source in the building, police have attended at least two other disturbances involving Novillo, who was released from a previous contract with French team Clermont Foot in January 2015, following an altercation with team mates.