Ronaldinho's son joins Championship club after quitting Barcelona with fans gobsmacked
Joao Mendes, the son of Brazil icon Ronaldinho, has signed for Burnley in the Championship after leaving Barcelona's youth academy earlier this summer
Joao Mendes, the son of Brazilian football icon Ronaldinho, has signed a two-year deal with Burnley after leaving Barcelona.
The 19-year-old travelled to Lancashire this week to sign his deal with the Championship side, and was snapped holding up a Clarets shirt alongside his agents Marcelo Sander and Marcelo Marchese. Reports from Brazilian outlet Globo state Mendes had a medical on Wednesday before signing for Burnley.
And it's safe to say the news of Mendes' arrival at Turf Moor left a few football fans on social media bemused, given his father is one of the greatest players of all time. One fan wrote on X: "Ronaldinho’s Son, Joao Mendes has signed for Burnley. I repeat, RONALDINHO’S SON has signed for BURNLEY FOOTBALL CLUB. WHAT."
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A second added: "Sean Dyche never would've stood for this." A third commented: "Any volunteers to take his old man for a few in the Big Window?" suggesting Ronaldinho would be welcome for a pint in a local Burnley pub.
A fourth wrote: "Give me about 4% of your dad's ability son and you'll do for me. Ronnie was a hero of mine growing up. Absolute god amongst men on the pitch." And a fifth said: "There's never a boring day with this football club."
What do you make of Burnley signing Joao Mendes? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Previously, he had been playing for Cruzeiro's academy before joining his dad's old club Barcelona in March 2023, where he played for the under-19s. After helping Barcelona U19s to a 3-1 win against Manchester United in a friendly, club president Joan Laporta said: "We want Ronaldinho's son to continue his career here.
"We will make him a contract offer. The other day we spoke with his agent and he has to close some things in Brazil first."
Mendes, who did train with the Barcelona first team on occasion, saw his deal expire in June with no extension in place to prolong his stay with his father's former club. However, the 19-year-old, who is eligible to play for both Spain and Brazil, will now be able to kick start his career with Scott Parker's Burnley in the Championship.
The Clarets got their Championship campaign off to a flying start on Monday night, dispatching Luton Town 4-1 at Kenilworth Road. The two sides faced off last term in the Premier League but found themselves relegated come the end of season. And it seems more than likely Parker and the Clarets will be amongst the contenders for automatic promotion back to the top flight come the end of the 2024/25 season too.