Wolves deny reports that Balotelli clashed with player during closed-door friendly last week

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Kenny Jackett has refuted reports that Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli clashed with one of his players during a friendly match that was played behind closed doors last week.

The match took place during the ongoing international break, and Balotelli partook in the action after he was not called up to the Italian squad by manager Antonio Conte.

It was reported in England that the mercurial forward, no stranger to controversy both on and off the pitch, was involved in an altercation with George Saville, and either headbutted or stomped on the Wolves midfielder.

But in speaking with the Birmingham Mail, Jackett defended the 24-year-old Italian, saying that nothing untoward took place in the training match.

"There were a few tackles in the game but nothing out of order," he said, referring to reports that the incident was actually just a strong, 50-50 tackle between the two men.

"There was nothing we, or Brendan Rodgers or [Liverpool assistant] Colin Pascoe, were unhappy with or that the referee made anything of.

"I can't even remember a 50-50 between Balotelli and Saville. Declan Weeks pinged the ball off him a few times but then Balotelli showed some fantastic pieces of skill to go past some of our lads as well.

"I can't really think of an incident where him and Saville clashed, if I'm being truthful."

So far, so good for Super Mario on his return to England, it seems.