Barcelona’s 16-year-old prodigious target ‘dreams of Real Madrid’, says coach | OneFootball

Gilberto Mora is regarded as the great jewel of Mexican football. He plays for Xolos de Tijuana and is breaking several records for precocity in Mexican football.

He has already made his debut for the senior national team under Javier Aguirre and won the Gold Cup last year.

The teenage prodigy has been on the radars of Barcelona for some time now, and earlier today, reports emerged stating that the Catalans had established initial contacts to explore the possibility of a transfer.

Gilberto Mora dreams of Real Madrid

However, according to one of the 16-year-old prodigy’s former youth coaches, he seems to harbour a dream of playing for Barcelona’s arch-rivals, Real Madrid.

“He has a dream, which is to play for Real Madrid, but he keeps his feet on the ground. He always watches football and loves watching Real Madrid. He certainly sees himself playing there,” said Ignacio Ruvalcaba, head of youth development at Xolos de Tijuana.

Ruvalcaba, who also works as a youth team coach at Tijuana, added: “I think he has a very focused family; his father has had a very good relationship with him, and I hope we can see him succeeding there.

“He does see himself playing there in the future; he loves watching European football, and I think he has the quality to be in those leagues.”

Gilberto Mora is wanted by Barcelona and Real Madrid. (Photo by Leopoldo Smith/Getty Images)

The coach continued: “We always joke with him because he’s a fan of a Spanish team, Real Madrid. He always watches those games; when he wins or loses, we make kiddie bets. Also on technical matters.”

“He always beats us; he’s not mean, but he is a joker. In challenges, with his teammates or us, he never makes a rude joke, just a good one.”

Mora’s agent on future

Gilberto Mora is represented by a well-known agent within both Barcelona and Real Madrid circles, Rafaela Pimenta, who also represents, among others, Erling Haaland.

“We’ve experienced for many years that a player can go to a small league and then continue the process. Now, if we go to a big team, the right step depends on the type of player; he’s ready to play wherever he wants,” said Pimenta in a recent interview.

Due to his age, Gilberto Mora cannot sign for any team outside Mexico until he turns 18. However, Pimenta made it clear that signing the 16-year-old wonderkid will be an expensive affair.

“I can’t buy a leg of Gilberto Mora for $15 million,” said Pimenta, who noted that “he can’t make a transfer before he’s 18, without authorisation, but if a team wants to talk to him, his team must authorise it.

“Vinicius and Endrick signed contracts at 17 and then made the transfer at 18. Xolos has a 100 per cent collaborative spirit, regarding approaches and calls, this transfer is moving in the same direction between club and player.”

Source: Mundo Deportivo