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Reuters

Sport

Botafogo fans crowd Rio airport to greet midfielder Honda

Soccer Football - Keisuke Honda arrives in Rio to join new club Botafogo - Antonio Carlos Jobim International airport, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - February 7, 2020 Keisuke Honda arrives at the airport and is greeted by Botafogo fans REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

Hundreds of Botafogo fans chanted Keisuke Honda's name as they raucously greeted the club's new Japanese signing at Rio de Janeiro airport on Friday.

The former AC Milan midfielder was also serenaded by samba percussionists as well as fans waving Japanese flags as he arrived to join the Brazilian club.

Honda, who played for CSKA Moscow and AC Milan in a globe-trotting career, signed from Vitesse Arnhem last week. Local media reported that it was an 11-month deal.

Soccer Football - Keisuke Honda arrives in Rio to join new club Botafogo - Antonio Carlos Jobim International airport, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - February 7, 2020 A banner hung at the airport during Keisuke Honda's arrival surrounded by Botafogo fans REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

The 33-year-old follows in the footsteps of foreign signings such as Dutchman Clarence Seedorf and Uruguayan Sebastian Abreu, who both became cult figures during their time at Botafogo.

Honda will be charged with helping Botafogo win the Rio state championship that kicked off last month and also halt the march of Rio rivals Flamengo, who dominated Brazilian football last year.

Soccer Football - Keisuke Honda arrives in Rio to join new club Botafogo - Antonio Carlos Jobim International airport, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - February 7, 2020 The Botafogo team bus is surrounded by team fans outside the airport during Keisuke Honda's arrival REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

(Editing by Pritha Sarkar)

Soccer Football - Keisuke Honda arrives in Rio to join new club Botafogo - Antonio Carlos Jobim International airport, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - February 7, 2020 Botafogo fans waiting for Keisuke Honda to arrive REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

Soccer Football - Keisuke Honda arrives in Rio to join new club Botafogo - Antonio Carlos Jobim International airport, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - February 7, 2020 Botafogo fans waiting for Keisuke Honda to arrive REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

Soccer Football - Keisuke Honda arrives in Rio to join new club Botafogo - Antonio Carlos Jobim International airport, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - February 7, 2020 Keisuke Honda (not pictured) arrives at the airport and is greeted by Botafogo fans REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

Soccer Football - Keisuke Honda arrives in Rio to join new club Botafogo - Antonio Carlos Jobim International airport, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - February 7, 2020 Keisuke Honda arrives at the airport and is greeted by Botafogo fans REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

Soccer Football - Keisuke Honda arrives in Rio to join new club Botafogo - Antonio Carlos Jobim International airport, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - February 7, 2020 Keisuke Honda (not pictured) arrives at the airport and is greeted by Botafogo fans REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

Soccer Football - Keisuke Honda arrives in Rio to join new club Botafogo - Antonio Carlos Jobim International airport, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - February 7, 2020 The Botafogo team bus is surrounded by fans outside the airport during Keisuke Honda's arrival REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

Soccer Football - Keisuke Honda arrives in Rio to join new club Botafogo - Antonio Carlos Jobim International airport, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - February 7, 2020 A Botafogo fan waiting for Keisuke Honda to arrive REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

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