Brazilian icon Ronaldinho has confirmed that his 17-year-old son, Joao Mendes, is set to join his father’s former club Barcelona in the coming weeks.
Ronaldinho, now 42, appeared 207 times for the Blaugrana across a five year stint after arriving from Paris Saint Germain in 2003, racking up an impressive 94 goals and 79 assists during his time at Camp Nou.
He is best-remembered for his skillful play and ability to score outrageous goals, while for many he was a cultural icon due to his ability to make the game exciting in a way that few manage, with Neymar being another such example.
I could watch Ronaldinho with a ball all day long! pic.twitter.com/m1QJVifyH7
— 90s Football (@90sfootball) February 5, 2023
Now, speaking to RAC1 radio station, the World Cup, Champions League and Ballon D’or winner confirmed that his son was set to follow in his footsteps, with the 17-year-old currently without a club.
“He is coming now. Barcelona is part of life. Wherever I go I take Barcelona with me. With the arrival of my son at Barca I’ll be more present than ever”, Ronaldinho confirmed.
Joao Mendes, a left-footed forward born in 2005, has been without a club since he left Cruziero in 2022 after six years with the Brazilian side, and allegedly failed to impress the Barcelona scouts when he went on trial at Camp Nou in January 2023, with only the intervention of President Laporta granting him an extension on his trial time.
However, if he can replicate even a fraction of what his father managed during his time in Catalonia, he will be remembered fondly.
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