Florentino Pérez says no to Messi: Goodbye Inter Miami to play at Real Madrid

Real Madrid doesn't take its eyes off the other side of the Atlantic. In recent years, its policy of recruiting young talent in America has brought great results.

Clear examples are Vinícius Júnior, who has established himself as a global star. There is also Franco Mastantuono, who's set to become one of the great white leaders. Both arrived as teenagers and today prove that the strategy is correct.

With that roadmap in mind, the white club is already working on its next big bet. 

The emergence of Gilberto Mora

The name that's come up strongly is Gilberto Mora, a Mexican attacking midfielder who's only 16 years old and is already an undisputed starter at Club Tijuana.

The Mexican made his first-team debut ten days after turning 15. Since then, he has played in almost 50 official matches, including 20 in the top tier of Mexican soccer.

His football maturity surprises everyone, and he's been receiving more and more praise both nationally and internationally.

He'll be one of the great figures at the U-20 World Cup to be held in Chile: a perfect showcase to confirm his potential.

Many European clubs, including Real Madrid, will be watching his performance closely at the world event.

The threat from Inter Miami

Real Madrid isn't alone in the race to sign Gilberto Mora. Inter Miami, led by David Beckham and with Lionel Messi as its top figure, has launched a very ambitious offensive.

Their idea is to sign the young Mexican talent as soon as possible. They want to prevent him from ending up in the hands of European giants like Arsenal, Manchester United, or the white club itself.

In MLS, Mora would have the advantage of getting playing time immediately and growing without the pressure that would come with joining a European giant.

In addition, the chance to share a locker room with Messi is an attraction that's hard to match for any teenager with aspirations of greatness.

Restrictions, but the priority is Real Madrid

The main obstacle is FIFA regulations: players under 18 can't be transferred internationally except in rare cases.

That means that, even though there are already offers and negotiations, Mora won't be able to make the move until he reaches adulthood.

Meanwhile, both Real Madrid and Inter Miami are working to position themselves better. The whites know that their prestige offer is being part of a global elite, while the Americans offer a calmer and more direct path to full professionalization.

Whatever his future holds, the truth is that Mora wants to prioritize Madrid and aims to shine at the elite level of world soccer.

The white team sees him as another potential Vinícius or Mastantuono, while Inter Miami wants to make him their next standard-bearer.

The outcome will depend on what happens in the coming months, but everything suggests that the Mexican gem will give people plenty to talk about.