Premier League giants Newcastle United are reportedly keeping tabs on Antonio Nusa as the Club Brugge wonderkid earns comparisons with Norway team-mates Erling Haaland Martin Odegaard.
The 18-year-old whizzkid has been labelled the ‘next Erling Haaland’ by some and compared to Neymar by others. But there was another player former Norway coach Per-Mathias Hogmo simply could not get out of his head when watching Antonio Nusa skip past bamboozled defenders on his international debut last week, opening the scoring in a 6-0 obliteration of Jordan.
“When I sat and looked at him, he reminded me of Martin Odegaard when I took him to the national team at the start (of his career),” Hogmo tells VG.
“The wonderful balance. The ability to handle the ball in tight situations and, at the same time, be efficient in the way you play.
Newcastle United scout Norway wonderkid Antonio Nusa
“There was nothing more we could do for him. He is, in short, the greatest talent we have seen and will be watching for quite some time. We have had several good players, but Antonio Nusa is something very special.”
That is some compliment. Especially when you consider that Odegaard and Haaland have risen through the Norwegian ranks to become two of the greatest talents not only in the Premier League but in world football.
With 90Min reporting that Newcastle, Arsenal and Liverpool are all keeping tabs on the Club Brugge wonderkid, Nusa may soon be afforded the opportunity to show that he belongs alongside such exalted company.
Investing heavily in Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento and co, Newcastle United’s transformation under Eddie Howe and Dan Ashworth is being built upon the foundations of youth, and 18-year-old Nusa would fit in nicely at St James’ Park.
Nusa turns down Chelsea move
Nusa’s former coach Dag Inge Kjolstad, however, is keen to warn of Nusa of the dangers of ‘too much, too soon’. The teenager certainly has a mature head on his still-broadening shoulders, however, confirming that he turned down a £23 million move to Chelsea over the summer (Evening Standard).
“He has made extremely wise choices after he left Langhus. First Stabaek, and then to a club that wants to bet on him (Club Brugge),” Kjolstad adds. “You see that he is not just jumping to some big club, and at least not Chelsea.
“(At Chelsea) There is buying and selling that is not sustainable.
“I have such faith in him that you won’t believe it. And that has to do with the way he functions as a person.”
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