Ronaldinho confirms 17-year-old son Mendes will join Barcelona academy
Ronaldinho has confirmed his son will join the club where he ascended to the summit of world football, Barcelona.
The Brazilian superstar, now 42, was back in the Catalan capital in order to receive the ‘legend’ award from MD. He spoke about how Barcelona will always have a place in his heart, as well as being on friendly terms with two of the three highly controversial Presidents of the last two decades, Joan Laporta and Sandro Rosell. The latter he would refer to as his brother.
Speaking to RAC1, as picked up by Marca, the great Brazilian confirmed his son would be joining Barcelona, where he holds an ambassadorial role.
“I’m never out of the club. Barcelona is part of life. Wherever I go I take Barcelona with me. With the arrival of my son at Barça I will be more present.”
“Yes, he is coming now. With his arrival I will be more present than ever.”
His 17-year-old offspring, Joao de Assis Moreira, is currently at Cruzeiro in Brazil, but has been on trial at Barcelona for several weeks in January.
Little is known about how good de Assis is, and whether he is highly-rated by the club. If he has half of his father’s talent, he has a decent chance of making to the first team.
The son of Brazil and Barcelona legend Ronaldinho has joined the Blaugrana, following a successful trial in January.
Joao de Assis Moreira, known as Joao Mendes, has become the latest young talent to join the club’s famed La Masia academy that has produced the likes of Lionel Messi, current boss Xavi, and legends Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique.
Where his father was known as a devastating attacking midfielder or winger, Mendes is a natural striker.
But the 17-year-old is still thought to possess the same dazzling array of tricks that his Ballon d’Or-winning father had up his sleeves.
Mendes’ trial was initially not thought to be going quite to plan, with Joan Laporta calling for the club to remain patient after he failed to convince the club in training, but he would appear to have made an impact in the latter stages.
Ronaldinho is himself operating as an ambassador for the Catalan giants, but has promised that with his son’s arrival in the club’s academy, his involvement at the club will only increase.
‘Yes he is coming now,’ the World Cup-winning magician told Spanish outlet Marca.
‘I’m never out of the club. Barcelona is part of life. Wherever I go I take Barcelona with me.
‘With the arrival of my son at Barca I’ll be more present than ever.’
Mendes had been on the books at Brazilian outfit Cruzeiro, before his contract at the club was terminated.
Cruzeiro are themselves owned by another Brazilian legend – Ronaldinho’s former team-mate Ronaldo, who owns a 90 per cent stake in the club.
Laporta is thought to have maintained a strong relationship with Mendes’ father, as he was a crucial part of the side that brought huge success to the club during the president’s first spell at the club.
Moreira’s uncle Roberto de Assis, who is also his agent, had been in direct contact with Laporta to discuss a deal for the teenager to move to the Nou Camp, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Ronaldinho enjoyed a glittering five-year spell at Barcelona between 2003 and 2008.
Having won the World Cup in 2002, he joined the club from PSG the following year, and went on to win the Ballon d’Or in 2005.
He was also named FIFA World Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005.
