Filipe Luis has revealed that he turned down lucrative offers from China to join his boyhood club Flamengo.

The Brazil international left-back faced the media for the first time as a Flamengo player on Friday, having completed a free transfer earlier in the week.

Luis celebrated the move by posting a childhood photo of himself wearing a Flamengo shirt with his grandfather on social media.

"I had other offers," he told reporters. "If it had been for money I'd have preferred to go to China, but it's different when Flamengo call. Not many people understand what this club means to me, but now I hope they do and I can realize my dream."

In addition to Chinese Super League clubs, the 33-year-old reportedly attracted the attention of Bayer Leverkusen and Barcelona after parting ways with Atletico Madrid in May.

"I've come to the place where I feel important, where I'll feel loved," said Luis, who will be tied to the Rio de Janeiro club for the next two and a half years. "Feeling important is above anything else." 

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