Mexican prodigy confirms European interest as Barcelona and Real Madrid monitor situation | OneFootball

One of the world’s most promising young footballers is emerging from North America. 17-year-old Gilberto Mora has captivated an entire nation with his performances for Tijuana, and his talent has attracted the attention of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Among those closely monitoring the midfielder are FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Barça, in particular, is said to admire Mora, believing he has the perfect profile to succeed at the new Camp Nou if his development continues.

However, they face stiff competition from Real Madrid, who have found great success in the American market with the signings of Mastantuono, Endrick, Vinicius, and Rodrygo.

Gilberto Mora confirms interest from Europe

Mora, who can play as a midfielder or winger, has enjoyed a meteoric rise. After a great U-20 World Cup, he is now set to join Javier Aguirre’s senior Mexican squad for the upcoming international break, a sign of his importance ahead of the World Cup they will co-host.

While speculation swirls, the player himself has confirmed his interest in a recent interview with ESPN (h/t Diario Sport).

Barcelona have Gilberto Mora on their radar. (Photo by Francisco Vega/Getty Images)

“I’ve managed to get several clubs to contact me; I don’t know, but I try to focus on my football, on the pitch, which is the most important thing, and it will happen on its own,” he said.

“The mental aspect is very important for a footballer… one of the most important things is to always have a winning mentality, always striving for more and more. I have always tried to maintain that mentality to be at big clubs,” he added.

However, any move will have to wait, as Gilberto cannot leave Mexico until October 2026, when he turns 18.

His club, Tijuana, are aware of his potential and reportedly will not let him go for less than his $30 million buyout clause.