Ronaldinho's son has pulled the curtain back on what it has been like playing for Lyle Foster's Burnley.
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Before joining the Lancashire-based side, Joao Mendes was honing his skills at Barcelona's famed youth academy, La Masia. However, at the beginning of the season, the young Brazilian called time on his career with the Spanish outfit and completed a move to the Clarets.
The teenager revealed that he made the move to avoid comparisons with his father, Blaugrana icon Ronaldinho.
"I want to be Joao, regardless of anything," he said in an exclusive interview with ESPN Brasil.
"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? It's good to be here."
The winger has opened up about what it has been like adapting to England from Catalonia.
"It's difficult at first, there's no denying that. Even more so now in winter, and here, as it's in the north, it's a bit worse," Mendes added.
"If you put on a glove, two socks, we can manage."
"Even though it's a small town, people are very passionate and connected to football. You can see it at matches here because [the fans] always fill the stadium. I think that's very nice here, the connection they have with the club is very big."
The winger also revealed that his parents initially discouraged him from becoming a footballer due to the inevitable comparisons with his father.
"My father and mother never really wanted me to pursue it because they already knew what was going to happen. But when passion speaks louder, you can't help it," said Joao.
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"It's a fine line, because there are people who cross it, there are people who don't, but I've always been proud to be the son of who I am.
"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."
