
Audio By Carbonatix
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure says he is upset by "untrue" claims he was involved in a dressing room fight with team-mate Mario Balotelli.Reports suggested the pair had a half-time row in the 3-3 Premier League draw against Sunderland, which saw City lose ground on leaders Manchester United."It's not true. I am a footballer, not a boxer," Toure told the Daily Mail."People don't know my relationship with Mario. He's not my friend, he's my brother and I love him."City led the Premier League title race for almost six months but have faltered in recent weeks, dropping to second place, five points behind neighbours United with seven games left to play.Roberto Mancini's men, who trailed 2-1 at the break against Sunderland before fighting back from a 3-1 second-half deficit for a point, have won just one of their last four league matches.The run started with a 1-0 defeat by Swansea at the Liberty Stadium, where it was also claimed that Toure and enigmatic 21-year-old Balotelli, who Mancini admits he does not know what to expect from, had a bust-up."They said I fought with Mario at Swansea and against Sunderland," 28-year-old Ivory Coast midfielder Toure said."That shocked me. My lawyers called me about this and it was the first I knew about it."To say we had a fight is very sad. It upset me and I feel sorry for Mario. He suffers most from these things."At half-time against Sunderland it was very difficult. But everybody was quiet. We were just looking at each other, trying to find a way to turn the result."But I didn't even talk to Mario. The next day he sent me a text message saying, 'Apparently we had a fight'. I just want to stop people writing and thinking that."Mancini believes Balotelli's behaviour on and off the pitch is blown out of proportion, although he feels the striker could give his critics less ammunition."There are some people who think bad things against other people, like Mario," he said."Every time Mario does something, [it] is like a war."There are other people on and off the pitch that do worse than Mario and no-one says anything because maybe they play for an important team or are not like Mario."
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Some Mahama ministers have been rendered redundant – Afenyo-Markin
2 minutes -
Nkoko Nkitinkiti alone cannot transform poultry sector without fixing feed challenges — Farmers
9 minutes -
Mahama pledges support to complete UHAS laboratory complex after inspection
10 minutes -
Volta Region’s development stalled under NPP, revived under Mahama – Volta Regional Minister
13 minutes -
Ablakwa donates 100 chest freezers to Juapong market women ahead of 24-Hour Economy Market project
14 minutes -
Uselss Column: ‘Lot’s Wife’s Husband’
16 minutes -
Useless Column: Akpeteshie is innocent
21 minutes -
Fix the courts, don’t create tribunals — Afenyo-Markin tells government
22 minutes -
Photos: President Mahama joins Ho Hospital at 100 celebration
24 minutes -
Global leaders meet in Ghana for Repairing International Development Conference 2026
28 minutes -
NDC promised 24-hour economy but has no clear roadmap — Afenyo-Markin
29 minutes -
NDC has abandoned the accountability standards it once championed – Afenyo-Markin
30 minutes -
Tramadol worth GH¢100m intercepted at Accra International Airport; three arrested
36 minutes -
NPA calls for stronger partnerships to secure Ghana’s petroleum future
37 minutes -
NDC hawks have taken control of Mahama’s government – Afenyo-Markin alleges
41 minutes