João Moutinho spent five years at Wolverhampton Wanderers before leaving them as a free agent in 2023.
The midfielder returned to Portugal and joined SC Braga on a free transfer in the summer of 2023. He’s been a regular for them and has made 28 appearances so far this season.
At the weekend, the former Wolves star played 88 minutes in his side’s 1-0 victory over FC Porto.
Wednesday’s edition of [O Jogo](https://www.ojogo.pt/) explains Braga’s win over Porto was the Portuguese midfielder’s 600th career victory. He’s had spells at Sporting, Porto, AS Monaco, Wolves and Braga.
The 38-year-old’s contract with his current employer expires at the end of this season, and there’s suggestions he could sign an extension.
O Jogo contacted some of his former teammates to get their views on Moutinho’s latest feat. This included Ukra, who played alongside his compatriot from 2010 to 2013 at Porto.
Ukra, who retired last summer, believes Moutinho has been an underrated player. He insisted the midfielder should have left Wolves for a big club in Europe.
_“He deserved more attention and recognition, despite his great career and the great clubs he played for,”_ he said.
_“I know he was French champion at Monaco, played with Bernardo Silva and Mbappé, played in the best league in the world, the English one, at Wolverhampton, but I believe he should have reached one of the big leagues in Europe, one of those with other weight on the international stage._
_“He deserved it, and that would bring another global dimension, playing for bigger goals. His consistency on any team comes from his stability at home, his relationship with Ana, who he has known since he was 15 years old. It is on this strong family basis that João always manages to be João. An athlete who doesn’t have an organised family life reflects it on the field.”_
Moutinho made himself something of a legend at Wolves, and sometimes that’s worth more than chancing a bigger move.