Ronaldinho sends heartfelt congratulations to son after he joins former club

The 18-year-old forward has agreed a move to the Camp Nou where he will play for the club's under-19s side.

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And he will be hoping to write his own name in Barcelona folklore after Ronaldinho won two LaLIga titles and the Champions League during his five-year spell in Catalonia.

Mendes had been without a club since 2022 having left Brazilian side Cruzeiro.

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But he has now made the move to Europe where he has linked up with Barca's famed La Masia academy.

Barcelona confirmed his move in a tweet on Thursday, where he posed for pictures alongside academy chiefs Joan Soler Ferre and Jose Ramon Alexanco.

According to ESPN, Mendes' contract will expire in 2024, where he would then leave the U19 side due to his age.

The news outlet states Barca will then have a decision to make over whether to extend his stay.

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Taking to Instagram after the official announcement of the transfer, Mendes said: "So happy and grateful for the opportunity! Long live Barcelona."

In a separate post, Ronaldinho issued a heartfelt congratulations to the teenager, saying: "May God continue to illuminate your path son!"

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Speaking last month at a Mundo Deportivo gala event ahead of the deal, Ronaldinho spoke of his excitement at his son joining the club.

He remarked: "Barcelona is part of my life. Wherever I go I take Barcelona with me.

"With the arrival of my son at Barcelona I will be more present than ever."

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But Barca president Joan Laporta has warned that the club and the coaches will have to manage the expectations of the left-footed youngster.

Laporta said: "The pressure that the boy has is very great, because Ronaldinho was one of the best in history.

"The son has pressure, but it is the job of our coaches to develop his skills."

World Cup winner Ronaldinho joined Barca from Paris Saint-Germain in 2003.

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In total, he scored 94 goals in 207 games for the Blaugrana in all competitions before joining AC Milan in 2008.