Gilberto Mora #19 of Mexico runs during the Group A first-round match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Mexico and South Africa at Estadio Azteca. on June 11, 2026, in Mexico City, Mexico.
Gilberto Mora #19 of Mexico runs during the Group A first-round match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Mexico and South Africa at Estadio Azteca. on June 11, 2026, in Mexico City, Mexico.
Andoni Iraola has responded to questions linking Mexican wonderkid Gilberto Mora with a move to Liverpool.
The links have refused to go away, and the latest reports suggest the Mexican teenager’s situation is moving again.
Liverpool have been linked with Mora since the midfielder became the youngest player at the 2026 World Cup, and the speculation has only intensified since.
Reports in Mexico claimed Liverpool had tabled an offer in the region of £36-37 million for the Tijuana playmaker, with TUDN journalist David Faitelson saying he had been told the proposal, relayed through agent Rafaela Pimenta, was worth more than $50 million.
Pimenta has since pushed back on that framing. Speaking to TNT Sports, she said she wanted to “put a stop” to the rumours, insisting there are “no transfers” in place and that any move would come in January or next summer at the earliest.
Mora’s release clause, separately, is reported to sit at around £21 million, with Tijuana said to be holding out for closer to £30 million for a player under contract until 2029.
Real Madrid and Barcelona continue to monitor him, while Borussia Dortmund and Benfica have held preliminary talks with Pimenta. Arsenal have also been credited with interest in recent weeks.
Footage circulating on social media showed a Tijuana supporter approaching him with a Liverpool shirt and shouting “Liverpool” towards him, with the teenager appearing to respond with a thumbs-up.
The gesture did little to cool talk of a move to Anfield, even as his representatives maintained no deal is close.
His recent fitness has been stop-start. Mora missed the back end of Mexico’s October international window with an ankle issue, then picked up hip inflammation that kept him out of Tijuana’s following league matches.
Head coach Sebastian Abreu described it as a recovery-management issue rather than a fresh injury, and Mora was listed as a doubt heading into Tijuana’s trip to face Toluca on Wednesday.
Now, Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has been asked directly about the club’s reported pursuit of the midfielder, and his response has only added to the intrigue.
Speaking to TNT Sports Mexico after Liverpool’s 4-3 Champions League win over Villarreal at Anfield on Tuesday, Iraola was asked about the Mora links. He stopped short of confirming or denying any interest, citing the relationship between clubs as his reason for staying quiet.
“Let’s see, not only because of what he’s doing, there are times when you ask me about players, but I can’t talk about players who aren’t ours, right?” Iraola said.
“In the end, there’s respect. And there has to be respect between clubs and well, if you’ll allow me, I don’t have my opinion, obviously, but I prefer not to comment, not about players who aren’t from Liverpool.”
🚨 ¡OJITO! 🚨
El nombre de Gilberto Mora sigue rondando por Liverpool, aunque Andoni Iraola no se comprometió. 👀🇲🇽
📲 @HBOMaxLat: https://t.co/JQG7BTwdTC
#TNTSportsEnHBOMax https://t.co/0v9zOaLhbd
— TNT Sports México (@tntsportsmex) October 21, 2026
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