Brazilian legend Ronaldinho’s son Joao Mendes has left Barcelona and has signed a contract with Championship club Burnley.
Mendes travelled to England earlier this week to finalize the deal, which was quickly wrapped up with the support of his agents, Marcelo Sander and Marcelo Marchese. After completing the formalities, the young winger was seen holding up the Burnley shirt in a photo, flanked by his agents.
His time at Barcelona was relatively short. He signed with the Catalan giants’ Under-19 team in 2023, following a successful trial that was facilitated by his father, Ronaldinho. Mendes’ arrival at Barcelona came after spending four years honing his skills at Cruzeiro’s youth academy, where he developed into a promising talent. However, his time in Spain did not culminate in any appearances for Barcelona’s senior team, and his 12-month contract with the club ended in June 2024. Despite his father’s commitment to helping guide his career, Mendes and Barcelona were unable to reach an agreement on an extension.
Unlike his father, who dazzled as an attacking midfielder, Mendes is a left-footed winger, bringing his own style and flair to the pitch. Burnley fans will be eager to see how the young Brazilian adapts to the Championship and whether he can make a significant impact in the upcoming season.
Burnley started their Championship campaign with a 4-1 win over Luton. They will next be in action against Cardiff City on Saturday at Turf Moor where Mendes will look to shine on his debut for his new club.
