Manchester United and Arsenal have both been keeping a close eye on Gilberto Mora at the World Cup, with the Mexican youngster quickly becoming one of the names to watch in the tournament.
The 17-year-old is currently with Tijuana, but the stage has changed very quickly for him. Mora is the youngest player at this World Cup, and that alone would already make him a point of interest for major European clubs.
But according to El Universal in Mexico, Manchester United and Arsenal both have scouts at the tournament watching Mora closely. The newspaper says a couple of games have been enough for English clubs to strengthen their interest in the midfielder.
World Cup role growing
Gilberto Mora has had a gradual role with Mexico so far. He came off the bench late in the opening game against South Africa, then stayed among the substitutes for the second match. In Mexico’s clash against Czechia, he started and was involved in one of the goals.
That kind of progression will have caught the eye. For a player of 17, going from late minutes to a World Cup start is already significant. Being involved in a goal makes the story even stronger.
For Manchester United and Arsenal, this is the kind of tournament where scouting departments can move from general tracking to more serious reports.
Why the big clubs are watching
Gilberto Mora is still at the very early stage of his career, so any move would need care.
That is also why Arsenal and Manchester United being mentioned together is interesting. Both clubs have reason to follow elite teenage talent before the wider market fully forms.
El Universal makes it clear the English interest has increased during the World Cup. The report names Arsenal and Manchester United as the two giants watching him closely. Manchester City werepreviously credited with interest as well.
Speaking of them, there is also another layer to the story. Mora shares a representative with Erling Haaland: the influential Brazilian agent Rafaela Pimenta.
That does not push a transfer forward by itself. It does, though, place him in a strong network if the European interest grows.
For now, this is a scouting story rather than a negotiation story. But given Mora’s age, his World Cup minutes and the clubs now credited with watching him, it is one that could easily build from here.