However, he also revealed that his heart belongs to Atletico Madrid.
González, 23, known in Mexico as La Hormiga — The Ant — has scored 25 goals in 37 appearances across all competitions this season, a return that has made him the standout striker in Liga MX and secured his place in Mexico's World Cup squad under coach Javier Aguirre.
Barcelona's sporting intelligence department has been monitoring him closely for several months, with the club identifying him as a financially viable alternative to their primary targets of Julián Álvarez and Erling Haaland, both of whom command fees or wage demands that are difficult to accommodate under La Liga's financial fair play regulations. González's release clause for European clubs is set at around €15 million.
Speaking to Diario Sport, González did not hide his admiration when asked about Barcelona directly.
"Yes, of course — who wouldn't? Barça is one of the best teams in history. For me, Guardiola's team is legendary, and what they're doing now with Hansi Flick is also very important. Any player would want to get there. If it happens, I would be very grateful."
On the possibility of playing alongside Lamine Yamal, he was equally enthusiastic.
"Yes — who wouldn't want that? I think he's one of the best in the world right now and what he does week after week is incredible. I would love to have him as a teammate. Being able to play with the best in the world is one of my objectives, and Lamine Yamal is one of them."
However, when asked directly whether he preferred Barcelona or Real Madrid, the answer was not what the interviewer expected.
"This will surprise people, but I'm an Atlético de Madrid fan. My father spent time in Madrid and used to bring Atlético things back for me and my brother, and I really liked them. I also love Diego Simeone's style — the dedication, the fight, never giving up, taking it game by game."
Beyond Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund have both been credited with serious interest, with German outlet Fussballdaten reporting that the Bundesliga is currently the most likely destination. West Ham United and Celtic have also made enquiries with González's representatives. Chivas have rejected early approaches and intend to keep him through the World Cup before negotiating a sale from a position of maximum leverage.
González is expected to be one of the prominent names of the tournament in North America, and his value could rise significantly once the competition concludes. For Barcelona, the calculation is to move early and avoid a bidding war. Whether Deco's budget allows that move to happen before the Clásico-era González becomes significantly more expensive remains the key question.