FC Barcelona have announced the signing of the club and Brazilian legend, Ronaldinho Gaucho’s son Joao Mendes.
An announcement was made on Thursday morning, precisely two weeks after the 17-year-old made his debut for Blaugrana in a friendly match against Manchester United as a member of a combination of the Juvenil A and B youth teams.
Barca has now exercised the option to extend Mendes’ stay after a successful trial.
On Thursday, he and Jose Ramon Alexanco, the head of the academy, signed a contract.
Mendes’ contract, according to reports, is valid until the summer of next year, when the forward would turn 19 years old.
When his initial contract expires, the club will decide whether to extend it, according to sources.
The young player, who had been a member of Cruzeiro since he was 14 years old, terminated his agreement with the Brazilian team at the end of the last year.
He is a left-footed attacker who can play anywhere in the front line.
His uncle, Roberto de Assis Moreira, who was also involved in Ronaldinho’s playing career, is in charge of managing his career.
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Mendes’ transfer to Barcelona will enable Ronaldinho to spend more time in the city where he played for five years, from 2003 to 2008.
Ronaldinho participated in Gerard Pique’s Kings League last weekend while his kid was on trial at Camp Nou. He has previously been in Barcelona at this time.
Ronaldinho scored 94 goals in 207 games while playing for Barcelona, helping the team win the Champions League in 2006 and two LaLiga titles.
Gaucho also played for Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan in Europe, while he played for Gremio, Flamengo, Atletico Mineiro, and Fluminense in Brazil and for Queretaro in Mexico. He retired as a player in 2015.
Sources: Forbes, ESPN, FC Barcelona
