Who is the son of Ronaldinho Gaúcho who signed with Barcelona

João Mendes, 18, was announced as a Barcelona player last week. Son of Ronaldinho Gaúcho and Janaína Mendes, a former dancer for Faustão, he passed through the academy of Cruzeiro lackluster and arrived at the Catalan club under the tutelage of the former star.

A striker, Ronaldinho Gaúcho’s son played for Cruzeiro’s under-13, under-15 and under-17 teams, playing for the club between September 2018 and February 2022. There, he won some titles, but did not come to great prominence . Before playing for the Minas Gerais team, he played for Flamengo, Vasco and Boavista.

“For me it was a joy to see that he also wanted to become a player. I’m a little afraid, as all fathers are. normal fear of a father for the comparisons that will exist all his life”, reported Ronaldinho Gaúcho in an interview in the documentary about the life of João Mendes.

SHORT RELATIONSHIP AND PRESENT FATHER

João had his story told in a series on Instagram when he was still part of Cruzeiro’s base. The mother, Janaína, said that she had a quick relationship with Ronaldinho Gaúcho when she worked as a dancer for Faustão, but that the star was always present in her son’s life.

“When I got pregnant, I was 21 years old, I worked at Faustão, it was very complicated. I already had my financial independence, I didn’t live with my parents… João was very calm, a very calm baby. His father and I were together and he he was always a great partner, especially in the beginning”, recalls his mother Janaína.

TRAINING AND MARKETING WITH FATHER

João will not go directly to the main team, but will train in Barcelona’s youth team, in the well-known CT de La Masia. He was approved even before deciding which team he would play for.

Tests at Barcelona have taken place since January of this year. Upon turning 18 in February, he took the next step towards being hired. The club’s action also aims to strengthen the relationship with Ronaldinho to generate marketing actions in the future.

“We are proud to continue the Ronaldinho saga. We want Ronaldinho’s son to continue his career here. We are going to make a contract for him. I don’t know if it will be for Juvenil B. The kid has quality and we are happy. We like to maintain this relationship with Ronaldinho. The pressure on the boy is great, Ronaldinho was one of the best in history. The son has pressure, but it is up to our coaches that he can develop his skills”, Joan Laporta, president of Barcelona.