Mario Balotelli thanks fans, calls Brazil "paradise"

Rio de Janeiro: Buoyed by his Man-of-the-Match winning performance for Italy against England Saturday, Mario Balotelli has described Brazil as "paradise" and thanked fans for their support.

Balotelli, who headed in a second-half winner at the Arena Amazonia stadium, published several photos of the Azzurri`s four-hour flight from Manaus to their training base in Mangaratiba, near Rio de Janeiro. "It looks like paradise," he wrote on Twitter, alongside an aerial shot overlooking the Negro river, reported Xinhua. Another image showed him blowing a kiss during a match for the Azzurri with words of gratitude to fans. "For all those who always support me, believe in me, and understand me. This is for you all! Thank you. And now let`s keep believing in it because we haven`t even started yet." Italy will next meet Costa Rica in Recife June 20 before confronting Uruguay in Natal four days later.