Real Madrid to face stiff Barcelona competition in the race to sign North American starlet

Real Madrid to face stiff Barcelona competition in the race to sign North American starlet Barcelona and Real Madrid are currently locked in a transfer battle to sign Manchester United prodigy JJ Gabriel, who is reportedly keen on moving to Spain. But the two perennial rivals could lock horns for one more young talent in the form of Gilberto Mora. The Mexican international is fast becoming one of the most talented players to come out of North America in recent years and Real Madrid have been monitoring him for a while. Barcelona to provide strong competition According to SPORT , Gilberto Mora is a genuine option for Barcelona as they scour the market for a new attacker, setting up another potential tug-of-war with Los Blancos . Is Mora the next big talent in North American football?  (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) The young midfielder has just turned 18, meaning he is now free to join a European club. His agent, Rafaela Pimenta, who also represents Erling Haaland, has made clear that a move across the Atlantic is coming, with only the timing to be decided. “The big decision is when to do it. He has to be ready as a person,” Pimenta told TUDN. Mora’s current Transfermarkt valuation sits at around €25 million, though Mexican media suggest his asking price will climb to €50-60 million, with any buyer also expected to lay out a clear plan for his adaptation to Europe. Why Mora is an appealing target for Real Madrid Real Madrid cannot afford to surrender Gilberto Mora to Barcelona. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) What makes Mora so coveted is that he has already built a strong track record. Since debuting at 15 years and 10 months, he has become the youngest goalscorer in both Liga MX and Copa MX, as well as the youngest Clausura tournament MVP. For Mexico, he is the youngest ever debutant, scorer and assist provider, and started their biggest games at this summer’s World Cup, against Ecuador and England. For Real Madrid, the attraction is obvious, even if the position appears well stocked. Mora has previously made no secret of his admiration for the club, with reports indicating he dreams of playing at the Bernabeu one day . It remains to be seen whether or not Barcelona being serious about signing Mora prompts Real Madrid to make a move for the Mexican international.