Four years later, Balotelli is Italy's star attraction. Born to Ghanaian immigrants in Sicily and brought up by an Italian foster family, he's also the symbol of Italy's new multi-ethnic generation.Often subjected to racist chants back home, Balotelli's reception couldn't be more different in Brazil. He was already a fan favorite during last year's Confederations Cup when he supported a charity project for one of Salvador's largest slums and tweeted, "I look like a person from Bahia!!!"
And when he was replaced midway through the second half against England, nearly the entire crowd in Manaus showered him with a long applause. Later that night, Balotelli shared a photo of him blowing a kiss to the crowd with his 2.31 million followers on Twitter."
For all those ones that always support me, (believe) in me, and understand me. This is for you all!" he wrote. "Thank you. And now lets keep (believing) in it cause we didn't even started yet."
