The son of former Brazil forward Ronaldinho has committed permanently to Barcelona’s under-19 squad, according to the Catalan club.
Joao Mendes de Assis Moreira, 18, was reportedly training with Barca’s Juvenil A team in January, pending a decision on whether to offer him a contract.
Barca has now opted to extend Mendes’ stay after a successful trial. With academy president José Ramon Alexanco, he inked a contract on Thursday.
Mendes’ contract, according to sources who spoke to ESPN, will last through the summer of 2020, when the forward will graduate from the U19 age group. After his initial contract ends, the club will decide whether to renew it, according to sources.
The teenager terminated his contract with Cruzeiro at the end of the previous year despite having played for the Brazilian team since he was 14 years old.
His uncle, Roberto de Assis Moreira, who also actively supported Ronaldinho’s playing career, is in charge of managing his career as a left-footed forward who can play across the front line.
Ronaldinho will be able to spend more time in Barcelona thanks to Mendes’ transfer there because he played there for five years between 2003 and 2008 as a player.
As his son was being evaluated at Camp Nou, Ronaldinho, 42, was already there. Last weekend, he participated in Gerard Pique’s Kings League.
The World Cup champion from 2002 participated for Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos’ squad
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