Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini breaks up fight between Mario Balotelli and Jerome Boateng

The City manager, who has seen midfielders James Milner and Yaya Toure involved in a heated tunnel argument and Emmanuel Adebayor and Vincent Kompany row on the pitch this season, separated Balotelli and Boateng after Balotelli reacted angrily to a challenge by the German defender during preparations for Saturday's Eastlands encounter with Bolton.

The incident, shown on the accompanying photographs, saw the two players shove each other before Boateng grabbed Balotelli by the throat. Mancini then spoke to the two players before taking 20-year-old Balotelli aside in an effort to defuse the spat.

Balotelli, whose hot-headed reputation marred his time at Inter Milan prior to his £22 million transfer to City in August, appeared to draw a line under the incident by embracing Boateng within seconds of the initial flare-up.

With City’s training ground located at the side of busy main road, attempts to keep prying eyes and cameras at a distance have proved problematic, with planning permission required to erect a suitably high fence.

Despite the latest display of tension within the camp, City insisted that the clash was a trivial matter. A City spokesperson said: "We are not remotely concerned by this. It is a reflection of the competitive edge the players apply to training every day. It only lasted for a few a seconds and it's not something we are concerned about."

Meanwhile, defender Joleon Lescott has admitted he may look to leave the club in January due to limited opportunities under Mancini.

Lescott said: “January is down to me and the club. The club might say ‘if there’s a chance to play, go and play’ and, if not, I will have to stay here. I’m a professional and level-headed person and I know situations come and go.

“I respect the manager’s decision, but I’m not happy with the situation. I don’t enjoy sitting on the bench, and sometimes not even making the bench, so I’m not happy with that.”