Ronaldinho's son joins Barcelona academy

Joao Mendes, the son of Brazilian legend Ronaldinho, has joined Barcelona's youth academy, the Spanish club said on Thursday.

The 18-year-old is expected to initially form a part of Barcelona's B team, which plays in Spanish football's third tier.

The Catalan outfit confirmed the deal on Twitter alongside a photo in which Mendes is seen shaking hands and posing with club directors.

Mendes, who had been without a club since leaving Brazil's Cruzeiro in February last year, impressed Barcelona coaches during a trial earlier this year.

Ronaldinho, 42, is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in Barcelona's history. He won the Ballon d'Or while at Camp Nou in 2005 and led the Blaugrana to the UEFA Champions League trophy and back-to-back La Liga titles during his time there.