Gilberto Mora is one of the most sought after 17-year-olds in world football, with the race to sign him set to get even crazier.
With the weight of a nation on his shoulders, Gilberto Mora has lived up to expectations this summer at the World Cup and then some.
Mora was brilliant against Ecuador, with his level of talent evident throughout the tournament, furthering the interest in him, which is already at a fever pitch.
Manchester United have long been keen on Mora, watching him as early as the U17 World Cup in 2025. Mora turns 18 later this year, after which every big club in Europe will be on his tail ahead of a 2027 move.
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Javier Hernandez heaps praise on Gilberto Mora
Mora’s performances speak for themselves, but it helps that Mexico legend and former United striker Javier Hernandez is a huge fan.
He praised the teenager after Mexico’s first World Cup game, and now again after the round of 32.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Javier Hernandez has heaped praise on Mora, even bringing up the comparison with Pele.
“What a fantastic player we have. He’s 17 years old, and he’s the second youngest player in history to play in a World Cup. I think after Pelé.
“Imagine that, after Pele comes our Gilberto Mora, and he is doing it in an incredible way.
“The Round of 32, starting at the Azteca Stadium against Ecuador, and the way he makes decisions, beyond his spectacular technical attributes, what I like to value in a young player is his decision-making.
“Because if his decision-making is correct, it’s in line with when he has to take on a defender, he takes on a defender and when he has to slow down and pause, he does; when he has to be part of the build-up play, also when he has to get into the box, when he has to shoot, and all of that Gilberto Mora, at 17 years old, has done flawlessly, flawlessly. What a player we have.”
Praise for Mora is unavoidable because he is a sensational player. But whether he is really ready for the Premier League could become clear when Mexico face England on Sunday night.
The eyes of England will be watching to see if Mora can hang with Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson. If he does, then there is a chance that clubs take the race seriously right now.
But United might not.
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Manchester United could be put off Mora by his agent
While United are very keen on Mora, there is a chance that when it comes to the bidding war, Ineos don’t even entertain joining the race.
This is because his agent, Rafaela Pimenta, is expected to demand high agent fees from whoever triggers Mora’s £20m release clause, which was written into his new contract.
Alongside this, there is also likely to be high wage demands from Mora, with the club most likely to pay for him.
Omar Berrada made it pretty clear last month that United wouldn’t be held ransom by agents anymore, and this could unfortunately mean Ineos back away from Mora.
Whether you agree or not, it is a commendable attitude after how United suffered in negotiations in the past.
It is just a shame it could cost the club a generational talent.
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