A player like any other…or almost. On March 3, 2023, FC Barcelona formalized the arrival of João Mendes de Assis Moreira. A name that didn’t mean much to the general public. And yet, this was a small event in Catalonia since the Brazilian is the son of a certain Ronaldinho. Coming from his relationship with Janaina Natielle Mendes, dancer in the television show “Domingão do Faustão” in Rio de Janeiro, the young man, who was named João in honor of his paternal grandfather, grew up in sheltered from view. Which did not prevent him from starting a football career in Brazil.
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Concerning his career, there are some gray areas. But he went through the Flamengo academy, which he joined at the age of 10. Then he played at Vasco da Gama and Boavista SC. Subsequently, he joined the PSG football school in Brasilia. The opportunity for the French club to closely monitor its development. After that, the young teenager, then aged 13, was recruited by Cruzeiro. Discreet about his identity, he was unmasked and assumed to be the “son of”. A year after his arrival, he signed his first contract there. But at 17, this left-hander decided to terminate his contract.
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He has been at Barça for a little over a year
But he had an idea in mind. Join Europe and FC Barcelona, where he passed a few tests in January 2023. These were obviously convincing since the Catalans announced his arrival two months later. Before perhaps one day joining the A team, João Mendes was sent with the U19s so as not to skip ahead and adapt smoothly to a new country, a new football and a new culture. Despite everything, the president of Barça, Joan Laporta, could not hide his joy at welcoming Ronnie’s son, whom he had already encountered as a child training at Barça with his father.
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“We are happy. We want to maintain this relationship with Ronaldinho. The pressure on the boy is very great, because Ronaldinho was the best in history. The son has pressure, but it is the job of our coaches so that he can develop his skills. To help him manage all this, the young man can count on his father. “Barça is part of my life, and with the arrival of my son at the club, I will be more present”, explained the former PSG player. And this help is not too much for the 18-year-old footballer, who must get his bearings.
Discreet beginnings
Upon his arrival, he took part in a friendly match behind closed doors against a Manchester United youth team. Then, after two months of trials, he made his debut with the U19 B team during the International Mediterranean Cup (MIC), which took place on the Costa Brava at Easter according to Sport. This 2023-24 season, he is playing with Juvenil A. A team with which he played little during the first half of the season. He was on the field for 82 minutes as a right winger against Damm (1-1) on November 4.
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Sport had also written about him: “Mendes was precise in his passing and gave continuity to the game, but without the imbalance that we expect from a Barça winger. This season, he only appeared in three games and played 89 minutes in total. Joao is starting to establish himself at Barça, but he still remains in the shadows. But the 1m78 player came into the spotlight in March 2024. A little over a year after his arrival, Xavi called him up to Barça’s professional group during the international break.
A future that questions
In the absence of several elements of the pro group, the Spanish technician called on several young people from Barça Atlètic and Juvenils teams, including João Mendes explains Brand. A small event in Catalonia, but also in Brazil where the main sports media were fired up. “The successor has arrived”? wrote Lance! whileESPN wondered about his future. “A left-footed striker, João has a very different style from his father, but has other resources to also make history in Europe.”
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For his part, UOL wrote : “Ronaldinho’s son trains with the main team of Barça (…) Barcelona does not expect the boy to have the same abilities as Ronaldinho, but recognizes that he fulfilled his role well in the youth category .” In Spain too, many wonder if he will succeed in following in the footsteps of his illustrious father. Brand thinks it will be difficult. “João arrived at Barça a few months ago, he plays as a center forward and is left-footed, nothing compared to what his father did on the pitch (impossible to match him), but he has a goal and wants continue to grow at Barça to settle in Europe. Long in the shadows, João Mendes will have to step forward into the light and prove himself to remove this label of “son of” that sticks to his jersey.
Pub. 03/23/2024 4:02 p.m. Updated 03/23/2024 4:17 p.m.
2024-03-23 15:02:33
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