EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR has seen his relationship with Roberto Mancini hit rock-bottom after an amazing bust-up.
Adebayor had to be restrained by stunned players after Manchester City's manager accused the striker of faking an injury.
Mancini claimed it was no more than a dead leg, but Adebayor went for a scan to prove the injury was genuine.
City's £170,000-a-week forward responded by taking a scan of a torn muscle in his leg into Mancini's training ground office.
Adebayor has not played for the club since coming on as a substitute in their 1-0 defeat at Sunderland last month.
A City source said: "It all kicked off between them. There is nothing worse than a manager accusing a player of feigning an injury.
"Adebayor might not be playing well, but he would never be so unprofessional. He was furious."
Relations between the pair have been simmering ever since Adebayor was axed for the opening game of the season at Tottenham.
The latest incident in Adebayor's chequered career at Eastlands happened prior to last weekend's draw at home to Blackburn.
He has not featured for City since he came on as a 75th minute substitute for Joleon Lescott at the Stadium of Light.
Adebayor has been nursing the injury every since and missed City's last two matches.
He has had a string of clashes since Mancini replaced Mark Hughes at Eastlands last December.
The City striker had to be stopped by friends from confronting Mancini at White Hart Lane after he was left on the bench.
Adebayor demanded an explanation from the Italian boss at their warm-down session the following day.
The City striker then publicly threatened to quit the club as the transfer deadline came to a close, but they refused to sell him.
Adebayor is one of a number of players struggling to cope with Mancini's methods after the Italian has spent nearly a year in charge at Eastlands.
He was furious after Mancini suggested Jo, who scored against Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League win on Thursday, was now ahead of him in the pecking order.
A number of senior players are struggling to adapt to Mancini's methods, but there are no plans to change the manager.
He spent nearly £200m on new recruits in the summer and some are settling in better than others.
Despite Mario Balotelli's injury he stunned City's players last week by raising his hand in the air on one level and repeating "Eto'o", before raising his hand higher and chanting "Balotelli".
Don't believe a word of it.
[/center]