Real Madrid and Barcelona Battle for Mexico's Rising Star in Transfer Showdown
Gilberto Mora has emerged as the standout performer of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, with his displays reportedly catching the attention of Barcelona, Real Madrid and other top clubs.
Barcelona are closely monitoring Mora's development, as reported by Mundo Deportivo. This isn't the first instance of Barcelona showing interest in Mora. Previously, TUDN indicated that Barça extended an invitation for Mora to train at La Masia academy for several weeks to experience the club's philosophy firsthand.
The 16-year-old netted three goals and provided one assist during the group phase, helping Mexico progress through what was considered the tournament's most challenging group. His double strike against Spain earned El Tri a crucial point, with Mora's contribution gaining widespread recognition.
The Barcelona hierarchy aren't the only ones watching, as their fierce rivals Real Madrid are also among the clubs reportedly tracking Mora's progress. The young talent recently expressed his gratitude for receiving attention from some of football's most prestigious institutions.
The interest extends beyond Spain's top two clubs. English Premier League powerhouses Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United are also said to be monitoring the Mexican prodigy.
Any prospective transfer for Mora must wait until he reaches the appropriate age.
Gilberto Mora's Agent Speaks About His Future
With growing speculation surrounding Mora's destiny, his representative, Rafaela Pimenta, acknowledged that clubs have made contact.
"Absolutely. I'm aware of this, but I cannot elaborate further," Pimenta revealed to ESTO. "Gilberto Mora is a versatile player who can perform at any level. I've been in this business for three decades and have rarely encountered players of his caliber.
"In my opinion, he's already prepared. You could place this young man with the Champions League winners tomorrow and he would compete."
Pimenta sought to shield Mora from excessive scrutiny, considering the enormous expectations surrounding him. Nevertheless, she acknowledged that the Tijuana playmaker possesses the qualities to become a once-in-a-generation talent.
"Gilberto [Mora] has the capability to become the symbol of Mexican football for the next two decades," Pimenta shared with AS. "He's extremely young, and my duty is to safeguard him and provide him with necessary space. He possesses innate ability, maintains strong work ethic, shows discipline and demonstrates genuine love for the game."
Mora and Mexico resume their U-20 World Cup campaign Tuesday afternoon in the knockout round against tournament hosts Chile.