RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Former Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors center Anderson Varejao has agreed to return to his native Brazil to represent Flamengo, the Rio de Janeiro club said on Wednesday.

The 35-year-old had been a free agent after being released by Golden State last February. He will be tied to Flamengo for at least 20 months.

"I'm very happy and excited. I can't wait to arrive and put on the Flamengo shirt," Varejao told the club's official website.

Flamengo coach Jose Neto hailed Varejao's signing as a boon for Brazilian basketball.

"Bringing back Varejao will be beneficial not only for Flamengo but for Brazilian basketball as a whole," Neto said.

Varejao has not played in Brazil since 2002, when he left local side Franca to join Barcelona.

He spent two years in the Catalan capital before being signed by the Cavaliers, where he remained for 12 years.

In 2016, the Brazilian moved to Cleveland's NBA rivals Golden State Warriors but his court time was limited and he left the California club last February.