Juan Carlos Osorio, former manager of Xolos de Tijuana, was the one responsible for bringing Gilberto Mora, the breakout star of Mexican football, into the First Division. The Colombian coach revealed that from the very first training sessions, he saw in the young player a set of qualities that immediately reminded him of Andrés Iniesta, the legendary Spanish midfielder.

When Did Gilberto Mora Make His Liga MX Debut?

“You have to put the situation into context. We had just been eliminated from the Leagues Cup… After that, we started getting more familiar with the U-15, U-17, U-19, and U-23 squads. We did a lot of sparring,” Osorio explained in an interview with Jorge Ramos y su Banda.

It was on August 18, 2024, that Gilberto Mora made his official Liga MX debut, backed by the support of the Xolos crowd at Estadio Caliente, in a match against Santos Laguna.

“In those sparring matches, I saw Gilberto’s natural talent. He was still a kid, in the midst of his physiological development still very vulnerable. But what stood out most to me were his turning controls; with a single movement, he could turn and control the ball,” Osorio added.

A Talent Reminiscent of Iniesta

Each time the 16-year-old took the field, Osorio couldn’t help but notice his resemblance to Iniesta’s style of play.

“These days, in a high-level match, players average about 700 full 360-degree turns per game. Gilberto reminded me a lot of Iniesta. So we decided to use him, as Guardiola often did, as an inverted winger with a changed profile,” he explained.

Osorio even praised Mora’s contribution to Raúl Jiménez’s goal during the Mexico vs. Honduras semifinal of the most recent Gold Cup, in which the team now led by Javier Aguirre was crowned champion.

“I believe we contributed to Gilberto’s development, but the most important thing is his natural talent. That goal in the semifinal is proof of what I’m saying. He reads the game well. In the final, too through intelligent positioning, he won the ball, and that led to the goal. Gilberto has shown, in an international tournament, that he is on par with young European talents who are making the most of their natural gifts,” he stated.

Osorio Advice: Europe Awaits

Finally, Osorio shared a message for his former player, advising him to take the leap to European football particularly La Liga as soon as he turns 18.

“La Liga would suit him perfectly it’s more technical than physical. In the future, regardless of his physiological development, he’ll have what it takes to play in Europe’s top leagues,” Osorio concluded.

There’s no doubt that Gilberto Mora is turning heads both in Mexico and abroad. His playing style mirrors that of one of the greatest footballers of all time, Andrés Iniesta. Only time will tell if the Xolos youngster is destined for greatness.