AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli on Sunday denied being involved in an altercation with a photographer following media reports of an alleged assault outside a nightclub.
Domestic news agency ANSA says Balotelli, who was ruled out of his side's trip to Sampdoria on Sunday due to injury, had travelled to Liguria, on Italy's north-west coast, to watch his brother play in a football match.
The report said Balotelli later refused a photographer's request for a photo when he showed up at a restaurant with his fiancee Fanny Neguesha and some friends.
The party moved on to a nightclub, where the same photographer was waiting.
According to witnesses, Italy international Balotelli kicked the photographer after refusing another request for a picture.
The photographer called police and later accompanied them into the nightclub to identify the 23-year-old.
