Agent sends clear message on Mexico’s teenage star Gilberto Mora: “I’ll make sure he’s very expensive”

Gilberto Mora is widely considered the crown jewel of Mexican soccer. Still in his teens, he has already made a major impact in Liga MX for Club Tijuana, and with Mexico’s national team, sparking constant speculation about a transfer to Europe. But the youngster’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, wants to reset the conversation around his value.

“If he’s expensive, he’ll be respected”

One of the most influential agents in world soccer and the representative of stars like Erling Haaland, Paul Pogba and Santiago Giménez, Pimenta told Claro Sports that Mora’s price tag will be intentionally high.

“I’m going to do everything I can to sell Gilberto Mora for a very high price, because if he’s expensive, he’ll be respected,” Pimenta said.

Her comments reflect a broader frustration with how Mexican players are valued in the global market.

Frustration with Europe’s view of Mexican players

Pimenta openly criticized European clubs for what she sees as a double standard when it comes to Mexico.

“It makes me very angry,” she said. “Why can a player in Brazil cost $85 million, but if he plays in Mexico he has to cost $8.5 million? Is the Brazilian league that much better than the Mexican league? No. Europeans want to convince Mexicans that their players cannot have that value.”

Her remarks strike at a long-running debate in Mexican soccer, where top talents often move abroad for fees far below those paid for comparable players in South America.

Which clubs are interested in Gilberto Mora?

Clubs such as Real Madrid, Manchester City and Arsenal have all been linked to Mora in recent months. Pimenta confirmed that European interest is real, but stressed that timing and development matter more than headlines.

“We’re not in a hurry with Gilberto Mora,” she said. “Do teams want him? Yes. But we have to see the ideal place for him to develop. At this age, you cannot be the best player on your team. If you are the best, you have to move. He needs to be the kid who looks at others and wants to become like them.”

How much is Gilberto Mora worth?

According to Transfermarkt, Mora is valued at 10 million euros, roughly $11.9 million, making him the most valuable player in Liga MX. Pimenta believes that figure is far too low.

In a previous interview with TUDN, she put it bluntly: “With $15 million, you wouldn’t even buy one of Gilberto Mora’s legs.”

Injury setback with an eye on 2026

Mora’s future remains extremely bright, even as he deals with a temporary setback. The midfielder has been sidelined for about a month with pubalgia, a groin-related injury that has kept him off the field for Club Tijuana.

His coach, former Uruguay striker Sebastian “Loco” Abreu, said the club is taking a cautious approach to ensure Mora returns fully healthy, with an eye toward having him at his best for the 2026 World Cup.

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