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News
- 6 Oct 2025
Mexican wonderkid Gilberto Mora urged to move to Europe by national team coach
Martin Macdonald
- Updated: 9 Oct 2025 14:28 BST
- 2 min read
News
Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre believes wonderkid Gilberto Mora needs to challenge himself with a move to one of Europe's elite.
The 16-year-old has emerged as a sensation in his home country with Club Tijuana as well as at international level with Mexico Under-20s.
Mora hit the headlines in August of 2024 when he became the youngest scorer in Liga MX history at just 15 years and 320 days old.
The young attacking midfielder has made 41 appearances for Club Tijuana despite his young age, scoring seven goals and recording two assists in that time.
At the ongoing U-20 World Cup, he has been one of the best players of the tournament with three goals and two assists in four matches.
Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea are just some of the clubs who have registered an interest in Mora, and Aguirre has welcomed these links as he reckons the young man need to develop in a top league.
“Take him properly, to a team in Europe where he can play, above all. Because the truth is: you have to play, not just be there. I remember [Carlos] Vela and Giovani [dos Santos] - they weren’t playing, and people questioned me for calling them up, but training there, facing adversity, teaches you more than being pampered at home,” The Mexico head coach told TUDN.
“We have to push him into a different environment, in a league where he can play in a continental tournament. Conference [League], Europa [League, or Champions [League]."
Mora ready for Europe?
Mora's agent previously confirmed interest from European sides and, in her opinion, the 16-year-old is ready now to make that leap in his career.
"Yes (there have been offers) I know, but I can't say more," Rafaela Pimenta, also the agent of Erling Haaland, told reporters.
"Gilberto Mora is a player who can play anywhere. I've been working on this for 30 years and I've rarely seen players like him. I have also seen this with other high-level athletes. They are players who have an aura, a magnetism, something that when they arrive at a place you feel.
"It's impressive. I've seen this a few times in my life. This talent is only going to develop because he has the concentration and everything he needs. This means for me that he is a player who is ready. You put this boy tomorrow in a Champions League team and he plays."
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