Joao Mendes de Assis Moreira, the son of FC Barcelona and Brazil legend Ronaldinho, has signed a permanent contract with Barceona’s under-19 team, the club announced.
In January, reports surfaced of the 18-year-old training with the Barca Juvenil A side, however, the club was yet to make a decision on whether to sign the Brazilian on a permanent basis.
Upon completing a successful trial with the club, Mendes signed a contract with the team alongside academy director Jose Ramon Alexanco on Thursday. According to sources, the player’s new contract will run until summer next year.
Mendes began his career at the age of 14 when he signed for the Brazilian club Cruzeiro. He decided to rescind his contract with the team last year, however, before making his way to Europe.
Capable of playing in a variety of attacking roles, the left-footed Mendes receives constant guidance from his uncle, Roberto de Assis Moreira, who also played an active role in Ronaldinho’s career.
Ronaldinho played for the Catalan club from 2003 until 2008, during which time he scored 94 goals in 207 appearances. He played a pivotal part in the club’s 2006 UEFA Champions League victory while also helping them to lift two La Liga trophies.
