Ronaldinho’s son, Joao Mendes, is poised to join Championship side Hull City on a free transfer after severing ties with Burnley.
Spent time on the books at BarcelonaHas cut short spell at Turf MoorReady for new challenge with the TigersFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The reports on how the 20-year-old forward is set to link up with the Tigers’ academy system. He is expected to form part of their U21 squad that is based at Bishop Burton College.
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Mendes is taking on a new challenge after spending a little over 12 months with Burnley. He signed a two-year deal with the Clarets when making his way to Turf Moor, but agreed to the termination of that contract over the summer.
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Mendes started out in the youth ranks at Brazilian side Cruzeiro, before following in the footsteps of his famous father and heading to Barcelona. Eyebrows were raised when he swapped Catalunya for Lancashire.
GettyWHAT MENDES SAID
He is now preparing to trade one Championship outfit for another, with his intention being to step out of the shadow cast by his Ballon d’Or and World Cup-winning dad.
Mendes has said to : “I want to be Joao, regardless of anything. I never tried to be my father, I never wanted to be my father. So to get away a bit from where he played [Barca] and what's close, I think it was a good start and a good step for me.
“I think people on the outside want you to be something you're never going to be, whether you like it or not, right? My father was one of the best, if not the best, to ever play the game. So, being his son, being able to talk about him, is a source of pride. I try to do my own thing, I try not to put my father in the middle of things, I try to play my football my way, without pressure.”