Fans can’t quite get their heads around the club that Ronaldinho’s son has just signed for.
Throughout his illustrious career, Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho played for renowned clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, and AC Milan. The 44-year-old won the Ballon d’Or once and was named FIFA World Player of the Year twice.
Ronaldinho concluded his playing career in 2015 after his stint with Brazilian club Fluminense.
Ronaldinho’s 19-year-old son, João Mendes, previously played for Flamengo, Vasco da Gama, Boavista-RJ, and Cruzeiro before joining Barcelona’s youth setup in 2023. However, fans were surprised to learn that Mendes has signed with English Championship club Burnley.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano announced on social media: “Ronaldinho’s son João Mendes has signed as a new Burnley player.”
One fan reacted online: “How did this happen? The son of THE Ronaldinho is now a Burnley player???”
Another tweet said: “João Mendes, Ronaldinho’s son, has signed for Burnley. I repeat, RONALDINHO’S SON is now with BURNLEY FOOTBALL CLUB. WHAT.”
A third fan remarked: “Ronaldinho’s son, João Mendes, has actually signed for Burnley. Wow.”
Someone else wrote: “João Mendes, Ronaldinho’s son, has signed for Burnley from Barcelona. I can’t wait to see him play at Turf Moor this season…”
A fifth commenter noted: “Ronaldinho showing up at Turf Moor on a freezing Wednesday night in February to watch his son play against Hull is what football is all about.”
Another fan added: “A sentence nobody ever thought they’d hear.”
In February 2023, after a 3-1 win by Barcelona’s U19 team over Manchester United, president Joan Laporta remarked on Mendes: “We want Ronaldinho’s son to continue his career here.”
