RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda received a hero's welcome in Rio de Janeiro on Friday as he arrived to join Brazilian first division club Botafogo.
Hundreds of fans - some bearing Japan flags - gathered at the arrivals hall of Rio's Galeao international airport and chanted his name to the beat of samba drums.
The 33-year-old former AC Milan star briefly posed for photographs while holding a large Botafogo flag before he was whisked away to a hotel in a police-escorted vehicle.
Honda, who has been capped 98 times for Japan's national team, signed with the two-time Brazilian top flight champions on a free transfer after parting ways with Dutch side Vitesse in December. Local media reported that the contract runs until December.
Botafogo finished 15th in the 2019 Brazilian Serie A title race, just seven points clear of the relegation zone.
