Man United abandon six-month pursuit of Mora as bidding war looms over £20m teenager

Manchester United have ended their pursuit of Mexican teenager Gilberto Mora, pulling out of the race to sign the Tijuana forward despite six months of scouting that extended into the 2026 World Cup.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, United’s co-owner, is unwilling to enter a bidding war for the 17-year-old, whose performances in the United States have drawn serious interest from Manchester City, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Mora recently signed a new long-term contract with Tijuana that contains a £20m buy-out clause, a figure structured to facilitate a move to a top European club. Despite that relatively accessible price tag, United’s reluctance to be drawn into an auction mirrors their recent decisions to walk away from deals for Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes.

The teenager has been one of the stories of the tournament so far. He became the youngest player at this World Cup when he was named in Mexico’s squad, and made his debut in the co-hosts’ opening win over South Africa. He then started Mexico’s last-32 victory over Ecuador, becoming the second youngest player ever to start a World Cup knockout match — behind only Pelé in 1958.

Mora, who shares an agent with Erling Haaland, has made 50 senior appearances for Tijuana and is widely regarded as one of the most exciting young prospects in world football. His displays have helped Mexico advance to the last 16 of a tournament they are co-hosting alongside the United States and Canada.

United’s position reflects a broader policy under Ratcliffe: the club will monitor elite young talent but will not be pressured into overpaying when multiple elite clubs are competing for the same player. With City, Chelsea and two of Spain’s biggest clubs all circling, Mora’s next destination is likely to be decided in the coming weeks.