Gilberto Mora: Chelsea and Man Utd chase Mexican World Cup sensation

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Tom Weber | Writer

Multilingual sports writer who specialises in European football and American soccer.

Chelsea and Manchester United are among the clubs chasing the signing of Tijuana wonderkid Gilberto Mora.

The Mexican starlet has officially made his World Cup breakthrough after starring against Ecuador in the round of 32. Mora, who is the youngest player at the tournament at 17 years of age, was unplayable in the early stages of that fixture.

Head coach Javier Aguirre made sure to manage the precocious talent carefully in the group stage, giving him a substitute appearance in the opener against South Africa and then leaving him on the bench against South Korea.

The teenager made his full World Cup debut against Czechia and kept his place against Ecuador. This is par for the course with Mora - you give him an opportunity, and he will grasp it with both hands.

He was already a starter for Mexico at 16 as they won the Gold Cup last year, and only some injury problems kept him out of the team earlier this year. Mora is on course to become the biggest talent Mexico has produced in at least a generation - or perhaps ever.

Mora set for Premier League move

The diminutive playmaker has been on the radar of European giants ever since he made his Tijuana breakthrough aged 15. He hasn't yet been able to move across the pond due to his age, as he only turns 18 in October.

However, a transfer to Europe is inevitable, and Tijuana recognise this. Mora was recently handed a "historic" new contract by the Liga MX side. Negotiated by superagent Rafaela Pimenta and billed as the biggest deal in club history, Tijuana disclosed that Mora's terms include an exit mechanism that will allow him to move without much of a fuss.

That transfer could come as soon as January, at least according to TNT Sports Mexico journalist Rodrigo Lara. "In six months, during the winter transfer window, Gilberto Mora is going to take off, he’s going to compete, he’s going to be a Premier League player," he said after Mexico beat Ecuador.

"I can’t say which team yet. Today, after the match against Ecuador and after the England game, things are going to move forward for Gilberto Mora. The information I have is that Gilberto Mora will play in the Premier League."

Since his debut as a 15-year-old, Mora has been fielding strong interest from the Eredivisie, which of course has a long and proud history of platforming Mexican talent. De Telegraaf is therefore well placed to report on the youngster.

According to the Dutch outlet, which is usually reliable when it comes to Pimenta's clients, Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool are "vying for his services." Additionally, Barcelona and Real Madrid have been linked with him over the past 12 months.

It is doubtful whether immediately making the jump to one of these teams is the right move for his development. The 5ft 6in midfielder would surely struggle in a physical league like the Premier League and would perhaps be better off moving to the Netherlands or Portugal first.

Mora had to come off in the game against Ecuador just shy of the 60th-minute mark because he had run out of gas, illustrating that he still has some way to go in terms of his physical development before he can really leave his mark at the elite European level.

"It is a shame that Mora lost his strength, but he is still just a child and has shown tremendous courage," coach Aguirre said. A move to Europe is inevitable, but sometimes patience is a virtue.