Singer Miley Cyrus' friendship with Selena Gomez reportedly "turned sour" in 2008 because of Nick Jonas.

Cyrus sparked rumours of a feud with Gomez when she performed her track `FU` while holding a crude cardboard cutout of Gomez with her middle finger up before throwing it defiantly into the crowd during her Bangerz World Tour in Milan, Italy, Sunday night.

Friends close to the duo claim they have had issues since they both dated the former Jonas Brothers star, reports contactmusic.com.

A source close to Gomez, 21, told E! News that she has always taken the "high road" with Cyrus, but has never really liked her.

"This has been going on for a while,` said the source.

Meanwhile, a friend close to Cyrus said: "Their issue dates back to their Disney days... Things turned sour after Miley broke up with Nick Jonas in late 2007. The following year, Nick began seeing Selena and that is when the beef blew up."

The controversial cardboard cutout, created by a fan, featured a photograph of Gomez's head on a half-naked body.