“To finish my career at Benfica? That is my wish”

He arrived at Benfica in 2014/15 and quickly feel in love with the Club's supporters. With goals for every taste and game intelligent that few players have, Jonas stood out in the Portuguese football.

Today, the Brazilian admits being happy in Portugal and at Benfica, as well as his family. He still has one year of contract, but he is already making plans for the last chapters of his football history.

“To finish my career at Benfica? That's my wish. If I had to go back to Brazil, it would be to play at Guarani, but it is being great here. My family is very happy, so am I... My thought today is to end here at Benfica. I want to play until 35 years. Then, I will analyze and speak with my family”, he revealed in an interview with RTP and with SL Benfica media.

And if the president of Benfica, Luís Filipe Vieira, delivered you a contract to play until 36/37 year? Would you sign it?

“I don't have how to refuse. Everyone has been treating me with great affection. I'm at an amazing club, with amazing people. The president is a person in who everyone has a lot of confidence, he is very close. I confess that in all the clubs I have played I never saw a president so close to the dressing room. Everyone knows the command he has, he knows this club better than anyone. I have a really good relationship with the president”, he stated.

His career was at risk due to bacterial infection and he thanks to Benfica's medical department

“I want to thank the entire medical department of Benfica, to all the people who followed my process. It was a very difficult injury and, i'm not going to lie, my career was at stake. I'm very grateful." he said.

Jonas still dreams of playing for Brazil in the 2018 World Cup and he will “claim on the pitch”

“It is a dream, buy the chances are slim because I have never been called up by Tite. I will claim on the pitch, I cannot stop think about that. Until the final list has been released, I will work for that.”, he assumed.

Text: João Sanches and Marco Rebelo

Pics: Tânia Paulo and João Paulo Trindade / SL Benfica