Spanish newspaper As this Thursday published a critical analysis of the situation of Ronaldinho Gaucho’s son Joao Mendes, highlighting the uncertainty and constant pressure that the 20-year-old faces in order to establish himself in European football. The newspaper said the Brazilian striker was “still finding his way” and was struggling with the inevitable weight of his surname.
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“It is often impossible to think about the children of players without looking at their parents. Maldini, Gudjohnsen, Zidane… the list is long, but the weight of the comparison is greater than usual,” wrote As, naming Joao as one of the successors of great names who are about to make history for themselves.
Joao Mendes, currently at Hull City in England, faces his second domestic challenge after a cautious spell with Burnley’s Under-21s. Prior to that, he had experience in the youth teams of Brazil’s Cruzeiro and Barcelona, where he was seen as a promising player to follow in his father’s footsteps.
However, the paper emphasizes that the young man’s trajectory has been a “roller coaster from the beginning.” In a recent interview with BBC Radio, Joanne sought to minimize comparisons.
–I don’t feel any pressure. I always make it clear that I am me and he is he. It’s normal for people to see me as his son, but that doesn’t affect the way I play, he said.
Still, As points out that attackers have not yet succeeded in translating this speech into on-field performance. The newspaper recalls that the player signed a one-year contract with Hull City in September and sees this new stage as his last chance to consolidate his career.
“He has won his place and dreams of being in the first team, but he still needs to show consistency,” the newspaper said, noting that Joao is trying to “restart his trajectory in a country where Ronaldinho has never played.”