Barcelona sign Ronaldinho’s son to under-19 contract

Former Brazil ahead Ronaldinho’s son has signed a everlasting contract with Barcelona’s under-19 crew, the Catalan membership have introduced.

ESPN reported in January that Joao Mendes de Assis Moreira, 18, was coaching with Barca’s Juvenil A aspect pending a choice on whether or not to hand him a deal.

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Following a profitable trial, Barca have now taken up an possibility to prolong Mendes’ keep. He signed a contract on Thursday alongside academy director Jose Ramon Alexanco.

Sources have instructed ESPN that Mendes’ contract will run till summer time subsequent 12 months, when the ahead would exit the U19 age bracket. Sources added the membership will assess whether or not to supply an prolonged deal after his preliminary contract expires.

The teenager had been taking part in for Cruzeiro since he was 14 however rescinded his contract with the Brazilian aspect on the finish of final 12 months.

He is a left-footed ahead who can play throughout the entrance line, along with his profession being overseen by his uncle, Roberto de Assis Moreira, who additionally performed an energetic position in Ronaldinho’s taking part in profession.

Mendes’ transfer to Barcelona will enable Ronaldinho to spend extra time again within the metropolis the place he spent 5 years as a participant, from 2003-08.

Ronaldinho, 42, has already been in Barcelona whereas his son has been on trial at Camp Nou and he turned out in Gerard Pique’s Kings League final weekend.

The 2002 World Cup winner performed for Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos’ crew within the seven-a-side competitors, however couldn’t cease them falling to a penalty shootout defeat.

During his time as a Barca participant, Ronaldinho scored 94 objectives in 207 appearances for the membership, serving to them win the Champions League in 2006 and two LaLiga titles.

Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan are amongst his different former sides in Europe, whereas he performed for Gremio, Flamengo, Atletico Mineiro and Fluminense in Brazil and for Queretaro in Mexico. He retired as a participant in 2015.