Barcelona join Manchester City in pursuit of 15-year-old Mexican wonderkid: Reports
Barcelona and Manchester City are set to lock horns for the signature of young Mexican striker Gilberto Mora, according to Caught Offside. The 15-year-old has already earned rave reviews with his recent performances for Club Tijuana.
Mora has already created history by becoming the youngest player ever to start a game in the Mexican League. At 15 years and 320 days old, he is also the youngest goalscorer in the history of the league.
The player has already turned heads at Camp Nou, with the Catalans now keeping an eye on Mexico's football circuit. Mora could be a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski at at the club. However, the La Liga giants will face competition from Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, and Crystal Palace in the race for the teenager.
The Premier League trio will reportedly send scouts to monitor the player for Club Tijuana's upcoming game against UNAM Pumas on Sunday, September 22. There's also interest from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), AC Milan and FC Porto, but it is believed that Barcelona are leading the race for the teenager.
Could Manchester City be the biggest threat to Barcelona's pursuit of Gilberto Mora?
Barcelona have already invited Gilberto Mora to visit the fabled La Masia and explore the facilities at the club, as per Caught Offside. The Calatans are hoping that interacting with other emerging talents at the club can help convince the Mexican to make the move.
However, the La Liga giants will be wary of the threat of his other suitors, including Manchester City. The Premier League champions have firmly established themselves in the European circuit in recent years.
With an enviable football structure in place and Pep Guardiola at the helm of first-team matters, Manchester City are now a lucrative prospect for every emerging talent in the world. Interestingly, Guardiola's contract at the Etihad expires at the end of this season and he hasn't signed a new deal.
Meanwhile, Barcelona could turn to call upon a familiar face to help get a deal for Mora across the line. Rafael Marquez spent seven seasons at Camp Nou as a player and served as the Barca Athletic manager from 2022 until the summer of this year.
He has since joined as Mexican National team manager Javier Aguirre's assistant.
However, FIFA rules state that Mora cannot sign a contract with a European club until January 2027, when he turns 18. Meanwhile, Barcelona will also need permission from the Mexican prodigy's family before they can take him on a tour of the club.