Ilves Tampere from Finland will still be an unknown club for many Portuguese, but the truth is that it is the home of a Portuguese player - Jorginho, a 25-year-old left-back, who is in his second season with the Nordic club. Jorginho has been a regular option in the Finnish League runner-up, playing 11 games in 2024. This is the left-back's first experience outside the country, after a spell at Sporting da Covilhã, Famalicão and Benfica. At 25, he reaches a special milestone in his career - 100 games as a senior. "It's a special milestone for any player. I'm happy to have reached these numbers with a win and on my return to the pitch after a brief injury. Now I'm going to work to be able to play another 100, at least", he says, in an exclusive statement to Desporto ao Minuto.  After ten years in Benfica's youth academy, where he crossed paths with great stars of world football - João Félix, Rúben Dias, Renato Sanches, among others - the defender embraced a different challenge. "I don't regret coming here. It was an opportunity I had. It took me a while to think about it, but then I accepted and it was an excellent decision. The lifestyle is different. I feel more valued here. Last season I won the Finnish Cup and this year I will be able to play in European competitions. It has been a winning bet", evaluates Jorginho.  Ilves Tampere was last champion in 1983. Ilves' next game is against the historic HJK from Helsinki. "We started the championship badly, but the team has been following up in the last matches with five wins in the last five games. I already have two assists. I was out for the last two games but I'm back and I expect to be 100% for the next game against HJK. We will continue to face our opponents with the same attitude. Then we'll see. We want to have a quieter season than the last one and finish in the first half of the table. Once this goal is achieved, we can move on to others", he says.  About the future, it is still an open book for Jorginho. "I want to enjoy this experience abroad to the fullest. I feel that, being away, people value your career more. I have expectations of being able to play in the Conference League and I believe that it will be an important moment in my career, after having already played in the Youth League at Benfica. I would like to continue playing abroad for a few more seasons. For now I'm focused here, then we'll see", concludes the athlete.  Read Also: There is no 'Bulo' without a but. Renato Sanches wants Benfica, but it's not the same (Portuguese version) Read Also: Renato Sanches wants to return to Benfica: "It could be the rebirth of his career" (Portuguese version)