| Clau Mendes | |
| Fullname: | Claudio Mendes Vicente |
| Birth Date: | 2000 12, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Arrecife, Spain |
| Height: | 1.86m |
| Currentclub: | Casa Pia |
| Clubnumber: | 99 |
| Position: | Winger |
| Youthclubs1: | Torrelavega |
| Youthclubs2: | Orientación Marítima |
| Years1: | 2019–2020 |
| Caps1: | 21 |
| Goals1: | 1 |
| Years2: | 2019–2021 |
| Caps2: | 8 |
| Goals2: | 2 |
| Years3: | 2020–2023 |
| Caps3: | 24 |
| Goals3: | 1 |
| Years4: | 2022 |
| Clubs4: | → Rayo Majadahonda (loan) |
| Caps4: | 12 |
| Goals4: | 3 |
| Years5: | 2022–2023 |
| Clubs5: | → Logroñés (loan) |
| Caps5: | 33 |
| Goals5: | 4 |
| Years6: | 2023–2024 |
| Caps6: | 29 |
| Goals6: | 7 |
| Years7: | 2024– |
| Caps7: | 0 |
| Goals7: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2018 |
| Nationalteam1: | Guinea-Bissau U17 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 1 |
| Club-Update: | 15 July 2024 |
Claudio "Clau" Mendes Vicente (born 8 December 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Primeira Liga club Casa Pia. Born in Spain, he represents Guinea-Bissau at youth international level.
Born in Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands to Bissau-Guinean parents,[1] Mendes represented SRCyD Torrelavega and CD Orientación Marítima as a youth before joining UD Las Palmas in 2019.[2] Initially assigned to the C-team in Tercera División, he made his senior debut on 31 August of that year, coming on as a half-time substitute in a 1–2 away loss against CD Buzanada.
Mendes scored his first senior goal on 7 September 2019, netting the last in a 3–0 home success over EMF Atlético Unión Güímar.[3] In December, he also started to feature for the reserves in Segunda División B.[4]
Mendes made his first team debut with the Amarillos on 13 June 2020, replacing Juanjo Narváez late into a 0–0 Segunda División home draw against Girona FC;[5] aged 19 years and 188 days, he became the third-youngest debutant of the club's history who was born in the isle of Lanzarote, only behind Sito and Antonio Betancort's debuts.[6]
Mendes scored his first professional goal on 20 September 2020, netting a last-minute equalizer in a 3–3 home draw against CF Fuenlabrada.[7] On 25 January 2022, after being rarely used, he was loaned to Primera División RFEF side CF Rayo Majadahonda for the remainder of the campaign.[8]
On 3 August 2022, Mendes moved to fellow third division side UD Logroñés on loan for one year.[9] On 19 July of the following year, he moved to UE Cornellà in the same tier on a permanent deal.[10]
Born in Spain, Mendes is of Bissau-Guinean descent.[11] He represented the latter's under-18s for the 2019 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations qualification, scoring a goal on his debut.[12]
Mendes' twin brother Leo is also a footballer. A goalkeeper, both finished their formation at Orientación before moving to different teams.[13]