Ronaldinho's son signs for Championship club on two-year contract after leaving Barcelona
GETTY
Brazil football legend Ronaldinho may be set to make an appearance at Turf Moor in the near future as his son has just signed a two-year contract with Burnley.
Joao Mendes has been looking to follow in the footsteps of his famous father after coming through youth football in Brazil as a teenager.
He began to make an impression during a four-year stint with Cruzeiro before leaving and being without a club for nearly a year.
Ronaldinho's former club Barcelona then offered Mendes a trial in January 2023 with Joan Laporta reportedly pushing for the Catalan outfit to give him a chance.
Ronaldinho's son signed for Barcelona last year
GETTY
Mendes officially signed for Barcelona in March 2023 before leaving the club a year later.
It's now been reported that he has signed a two-year contract with Championship outfit Burnley.
The winger will supposedly be made available to Clarets boss Scott Parker before the end of the week.
If the deal is completed before Friday, Mendes could potentially be available for Burnley's next league fixture against Cardiff.
Burnley have already splashed big on a winger this summer after signing Mike Tresor from Genk on a permanent basis.
Parker's side got off to a strong start to the campaign with a thumping 4-1 win over Luton Town.
Luca Koleosho impressed out wide while Vitinho got himself on the scoresheet along with Wilson Odobert, Josh Brownhill and Dara O'Shea.
Burnley are among the favourites to win the Championship this season and go straight back up to the Premier League.
Joao Mendes played for Barcelona's youth squad last year
GETTY
Leeds are seen as the runaway favourites to gain promotion to the top flight, but they made a shaky start to the campaign with a dramatic 3-3 draw against Portsmouth.
Parker was full of praise for his side's opening-day win over Luton at the weekend.
“The big statement was for us internally,” he said.
LATEST SPORT NEWS:
Joao Mendes has joined Burnley on a two-year deal
GETTY
“The execution of what we went out to do was incredible, and the belief and the confidence that this result will bring.
“From afar, people will look at it and will talk about it. But the biggest thing is the statement we’ve proved to ourselves.
“A lot of hard work has gone in, a different voice from myself. To a man, (the players) were superb.”