RIO DE JANEIRO, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Brazil defender Filipe Luis described his arrival at Flamengo as the realization of a "childhood dream" after completing a widely anticipated move to the Rio de Janeiro club on Tuesday.
The 33-year-old signed a two-and-a-half year deal as a free agent, two months after parting ways with Atletico Madrid, where he spent eight of the past nine seasons.
"It's a feeling that goes from father to son, from grandfather to grandchild," Luis said in a social media post alongside a picture of himself as a child wearing a Flamengo shirt alongside his grandfather.
"The big day has come, the day to fulfill my childhood dream. The day I can say I'm a player of my Mengao."
Luis is the latest in a series of important signings by Flamengo. Other marquee names to have joined the club this year include former Bayern Munich right-back Rafinha, Inter Milan loanee Gabriel Barbosa, Uruguay international midfielder Giorgian De Arrascaeta and former Manchester City defender Pablo Mari.
The five-time top flight champions are managed by former Benfica and Sporting Lisbon boss Jorge Jesus, who replaced Abel Braga in June.
