Mario Balotelli threw a plate of pasta into a teammate's face during his time with Italy's under-21s

Spartak Moscow's Salvatore Bocchetti recounted the story live on Russian television

Mario Balotelli has developed something of a cult status in recent years thanks to his bizarre antics on and off the pitch (Getty)

Renowned for his bizarre behaviour both on and off the pitch, Mario Balotelli has built up quite the reputation for himself over the past couple of years.

The player has admitted himself that he “sometimes does strange things” and the latest story to emerge regarding his past certainly attests to that.

According to Salvatore Bocchetti, a full-back at Spartak Moscow, Balotelli threw a plate of pasta into the face of Marco Motta during their time together with Italy’s under-21s.

Speaking on Russia television, Bocchetti recounted the story.

“One day we were eating in the dining room with the rest of the squad,” he said.

“Balotelli arrived and he just throw a plate of pasta into the face of Marco Motta!

“He’s a good player but he’s got no head! He’s crazy! He’s got no brain.”

Bocchetti’s story should come as little surprise for a player who Jose Mourinho once dubbed “unmanageable”.

The player was cautioned by Manchester City in 2011 after throwing darts a youth player and, three years later, Balotelli was accused of racism and anti-Semitism for an image he posted on Instagram.

Although Balotelli’s spell in England was tarnished by repeated incidents off the field, the 26-year-old finally looks to have got his career back on track having joined French side Nice in the summer.

The Italian has scored four goals from his first two Ligue 1 games, bagging a brace against both Marseille and Monaco.

It took Balotelli 173 days to reach such a tally at Liverpool but has taken him only 11 in the south of France.