Japan legend Keisuke Honda joins Botafogo after demanding ARMOURED car to play in Brazil’s murder capital Rio de Janeiro
JAPAN legend Keisuke Honda has signed for Brazilian side Botafogo… after his request to have an armoured vehicle was granted.
The midfielder, considered one the country’s greatest ever players, has joined the eighth club of his career after transferring to the South American club.
Honda, 33, has joined on a free until the end of the year after leaving Dutch side Vitesse.
But the only way Botafogo could convince him to sign on the dotted line was if they could provide Honda with an armoured vehicle to drive around Rio De Janeiro, according to UOL.
The Brazilian city is considered one of the most dangerous in the world with an average of 39 murders for every 100,000 people.
Football-mad Rio boasts four major football clubs including Flamengo, Fluminense and Vasco da Gama.
Botafogo unveiled his signing on Twitter by depicting him as a character on Pokemon using an old school Gameboy.
Honda is best known for his spells at CSKA Moscow and AC Milan.
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Honda lasted just six weeks at Vitesse before begging Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to sign him for Manchester United.
He wrote on Twitter: “Give me an offer. I don’t need money but I need to play with great team and great team mate! @ManUtd @ManUtd_JP”.
He remains a hero in his home country having featured 98 times in total and scoring 37 goals.