London: Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli`s relationship with boss Roberto Mancini is once again under stress after the Italian striker refused to quit smoking and went partying late night following their draw at Stoke City last weekend, according to a source.
Balotelli was a shock exclusion from Mancini`s squad for the 3-2 defeat at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night
The controversial striker traveled to Spain with the rest of the squad but didn’t even make the bench.
According to the Daily Star, Mancini dropped Balotelli for disciplinary reasons.
The pair clashed before the Blues jetted off to Madrid and Mancini told him he wouldn’t be involved but still insisted on him going to the Spanish capital.
A club source said: "Mario Balotelli is in the bad books on two fronts - a very late night out after the Stoke game and his refusal to stop smoking. He and Mancini had words on Monday afternoon and it led to him being dropped from the squad."
It is the latest in a long line of fall-outs between the feuding Italians since Balotelli arrived at the Etihad from Inter Milan in a 24 million pound deal in 2010.
ANI
First Published: Thursday, September 20, 2012, 19:39