Brazilian striker Joao Mendes has signed a contract with Spanish giants FC Barcelona after impressing on trial at the club. The 18-year-old striker is the son of former Barcelona attacker and one-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldinho.
Joao Mendes made his name playing for the youth set up of Cruzeiro, a club owned by Barcelona and Real Madrid legend Ronaldo de Lima, having joined aged 14. He developed his game in Brazil before terminating his youth contract at the club in January 2023.
Mendes passed a trial at FC Barcelona, with his father Ronaldinho announcing in early February that he was going to sign with the Catalan giants. The 18-year-old striker will join up with the U19 Juvenil A side and hope to work his way up to the first team. He joins the club on an initial one year deal, after which the club will decide whether to offer him another contract.
Mendes is a left-footed striker and will be hopeful of scoring a good number of goals to keep him at the club beyond 2024. His father joined Barcelona aged 23 and enjoyed a successful time at the club. He will be hoping to replicate that success in the colours of the Blaugrana.
