Following a successful trial with Barcelona's under-19 team, Joao Mendes, the son of Barcelona legend Ronaldinho, has signed his first contract with the Catalan club.
He was unveiled by the club on Thursday alongside academy director Jose Ramon Alexanco and will join the prestigious La Masia academy to further hone his craft.
His father, Ronaldinho, is widely regarded as one of the world’s best ever players and won numerous titles during his time at Barcelona, including the Ballon d’Or in 2005.
Mendes’ contract with Barcelona is reportedly set to run until the summer of 2024, at which point he will leave the U-19 team due to his age. ESPN has reported that the club will decide on whether to extend his contract once it expires. Mendes, who is a natural striker, will be hoping to earn a place in first-team manager Xavi’s attack.
While Mendes’ trial initially appeared to be going poorly, he managed to impress Barcelona’s decision-makers in the final stages and was rewarded with a contract at the Camp Nou. His father, Ronaldinho, currently serves as an ambassador for the club and will be heavily involved in his son’s development.
In a recent seven-a-side league match, Ronaldinho returned to the pitch but appeared to struggle in his first outing, stating afterward that “I don’t want to run, I let the others run.”
