My dad won everything including the Ballon d’Or – now I’m on verge of shock transfer to EFL from Barcelona
RONALDINHO’S son is on the verge of completing a shock transfer to an English Football League team.
Joao Mendes, 19, is on the verge of signing for Championship side Burnley.
The Clarets are said to be putting the finishing touches on a deal to bring the Barcelona academy star to Turf Moor.
Mendes started his career in his native Brazil with Cruzeiro before he joined the famous La Masia set up at Barcelona in 2023 following a successful trial.
But just one year later, he looks set to switch Barcelona for Lancashire after his contract with the Blaugrana expired in June.
He was pictured smiling while holding a Burnley kit, much to the surprise of fans.
And the son of football royalty is has been seen in attendance at Turf Moor after he watched on Burnley thump Cardiff 5-0.
The deal he will sign is expected to run for two years.
However, manager Scott Parker has tried to cool the great expectations on his shoulders and revealed Mendes was a “project” player for the club rather than someone who wold immediately step in the first team.
Asked about the potential deal, Parker said: “This is a player we see as a development player and a project in that sense.
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“As of right now the paperwork has not been signed but there is definitely something in it for sure.
“I get the excitement around it but I think it would be unfair to heap a huge amount of pressure on a young boy coming here.
“He knows why he is coming here in terms of development so I wouldn’t want to heap more pressure than that which is already on him.”
Mendes made his debut for Barcelona in a friendly match against Manchester United in February 2023.
However, he then had to wait two months until his next game, which came in the Mediterranean International Cup.
He struggled for game time with the LaLiga giants and will be hoping to feature more regularly at Turf Moor.
Ronaldinho's career by numbers
Here is a look at Ronaldinhos' career by numbers...
Gremio, 1998–2001
- Games: 10
- Goals: 1
Paris Saint-Germain, 2001–2003
- Games: 77
- Goals: 25
Barcelona, 2003–2008
- Games: 207
- Goals: 94
AC Milan, 2008–2011
- Games: 96
- Goals: 26
Flamengo, 2011–2012
- Games: 47
- Goals: 20
Atletico Mineiro, 2012–2014
- Games: 75
- Goals: 24
Querétaro, 2014–2015
- Games: 29
- Goals: 8
Fluminese, 2015
- Games: 9
- Goals 0
He boasts 561,000 Instagram followers, where he regularly shares photos of himself on the pitch.
While Mendes has had a lowkey start to his career, he would have to go some way to emulate even part of his fathers career.
Ronaldinho, 44, won the Ballon d’Or in 2005 when with Barcelona, while he also starred for AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain in Europe.
The trickster won two LaLiga titles, the Serie A and the Champions League at club level.
International level saw him capped 97 times by Brazil, landing the World Cup in 2002, Copa America in 1999 and Confederations Cup in 2005.
Can you name the famous fathers?
- Our dad’s a Man Utd legend – now we run our own gym
- My dad is an Arsenal Invincible – and I played under him
- Our dad is Man Utd Treble winner – now we’re following in his footsteps
- My dad is a legendary manager – and I even dated one of his players
- Our dad won it all for Chelsea – now we’re starring for our country
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