Balotelli in the spotlight again as City draw with Galaxy

Mario Balotelli sparked controversy as he was substituted after only 31 minutes following his attempted backheel when clean through on goal in Manchester City's narrow pre-season win over the LA Galaxy.

Balotelli had already put City ahead from the penalty spot after Micah Richards had been fouled.

He was then sent clear of the home side's defence on the half hour but instead of attempting to score normally, Balotelli tried a complicated pivot, followed by a backheel which rolled wide.

Manager Roberto Mancini was clearly furious and immediately took Balotelli off.

The striker responded with a few choice words to the City chief as he made his way to the bench, indicating that he did not understand what he had done wrong.

Mancini replied, presumably pointing out how disrespectful the move had been. Balotelli angrily took his place on the bench before throwing his water-bottle to the ground in disgust.

He did not return to the dug-out for the second half, further fuelling an already tempestuous relationship with Mancini.

Balotelli has not been at City for 1 year but already his crime sheet is extensive.

He was sent-off at West Brom in November, then against Dynamo Kiev in a last 16 Europa League tie which Mancini branded "stupid".

On more than one occasion the City chief accused Balotelli of not listening to him and the 20-year-old raised further eyebrows when he accepted the Golden Boy award and declared of the previous winners, the only one who was a "little bit" better than him was Lionel Messi.

He did not turn up for an end-of-season trophy parade - even though he was named man-of-the-match as City defeated Stoke in the FA Cup final at Wembley.

Already this season he was pictured showing off a T-shirt of questionable taste, which was condemned by the Damilola Taylor Trust.

With the club due to return to England at the end of their three-match tour, Mancini will presumably let Balotelli know exactly what he thinks.

The controversy surrounding Ballotelli's substitution reduced David Beckham's 45-minute appearance to a sideshow as Mike Magee bagged a second-half leveller for the hosts before Joe Hart ended a marathon penalty shoot-out to secure a 7-6 spot-kick triumph for City.