Joao Mendes, the son of Ronaldinho, has signed with English Championship club Burnley on a contract extending until 2026.
Mendes, 19, joined Barcelona’s academy in 2023 after a successful trial but left earlier this year when his contract ended. He began his youth career with Cruzeiro in Brazil, spending four years there before moving to Barcelona.
According to The Sun, Mendes is set to join Burnley manager Scott Parker before the end of the week. The news has surprised fans, with many expressing their astonishment on social media.
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One fan tweeted: “Ronaldinho’s son, Joao Mendes, has signed for Burnley. I repeat, RONALDINHO’S SON has signed for BURNLEY FOOTBALL CLUB. WHAT.”
Another wrote: “Ronaldinho in a Burnley shirt is going to be a crazy sight. I need it.”
A third added: “Sean Dyche never would’ve stood for this.”
Yet another said: “That’s actually mental.”
And another commented: “The son of THE Ronaldinho is now a BURNLEY player???”
Mendes made his debut for Barcelona in a friendly against Manchester United in February 2023 but had limited game time, only appearing again in the Mediterranean International Cup. He will be looking for more opportunities to play regularly at Turf Moor.