Who is Antonio Nusa? – Introducing the Norwegian-Nigerian wonderkid on PL giants’ radar

On Thursday night, a certain teenager named Antonio Nusa was an injured onlooker, as Club Brugge overcame Bodø/Glimt 1-0 in their second UEFA Europa Conference League match of the campaign.

But that hasn't stopped big clubs from courting the 18-year-old winger, and in contrast to the frigid conditions his teammates faced in the Arctic Circle yesterday, the interest in this Norwegian-Nigerian wonderkid has never been hotter it seems.

But just who is Nusa, and why do so many teams admire him?

Background story: Who is Antonio Nusa?

Fabrizio Romano reported only last month that Chelsea had bid €30m for Nusa late in the summer window. They were knocked back by Brugge, but apparently intend on returning for the teenage star.

Son of a Nigerian father and Norwegian mother, Antonio Nusa was born in Langhus, Norway in 2005. He played much of his youth career with his local side before moving to Stabæk. 

Astonishingly, he made his senior debut at just 16 and scored three goals in Norway’s top flight, before Brugge snapped him up in summer 2021, where he has steadily developed since.

How does Antonio Nusa play?

Nusa plays most of his football as a left-winger. Like many wide men who break through at his age, he is blessed with blistering pace. However, Nusa is not unduly reliant on his speed.

In fact, when watching him, one of his biggest strengths is actually deceleration. He can stop just as quickly as he starts. This allows him to draw defenders in before bursting beyond them again, or find space to deliver a pass or shot in a way not dissimilar to Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli.

Remarkably, Nusa is in the 90th percentile or higher for successful take-ons, carries into the penalty area or final third and progressive carries, showing just how much composure and cool he has for his age.

This has never been more evident than when a 17-year-old Nusa was substituted on against FC Porto for his Champions League debut a year ago. Showing zero respect to the 2004 UCL winners, he ran in behind, settled himself and arrowed a shot into the bottom-left corner.

Interestingly, that goal made him the second youngest scorer ever in the illustrious competition, after Ansu Fati.

A born creative, Nusa also ranks in the 90th percentile or higher for shot-creating actions, goal-creating actions and expected assists when compared to wide men from leagues of comparable strength to the Belgian Pro League. 

Nusa works hard out of possession too. He is an intelligent presser and often wins the ball back for his side with his tenacity. He wins a surprising 75% of his duels when opposition players attempt to beat him on the dribble.

His biggest weakness, like many wingers, is being a little overambitious and occasionally technically inconsistent. He miscontrols the ball 4.6 times per game and is dispossessed by an opponent at least twice a game on average.

This is hopefully something that he will grow out of with experience and better decision making.

Antonio Nusa becoming Norway's ‘enfant terrible'

Four weeks ago, Nusa made his long-awaited Norway senior debut. The teenager did not disappoint.

After ten minutes against Jordan, the left-winger already had his full-back’s number. He carried the ball infield, exchanged passes with Jørgen Strand Larsen, turned in the penalty area and bent a finish into the far post that rippled the side netting.

Twenty minutes later, he returned the favour and sent Strand Larsen galloping in behind with a beautifully weighted pass, which the striker duly finished.

And his second performance showed no signs of a sophomore slump, as he set up goals for Martin Ødegaard and Erling Haaland, in a 2-1 victory over Georgia.

The hype is real…

These days, the inevitable comparison for any promising young Norwegian attacker is with those two countrymen, who are two of the Premier League’s biggest talents right now.

And while some sceptics might have their own opinion, it’s undeniably a hard comparison to resist on the evidence of that Georgia game, and his already intimate connection to their playing style.

That can only increase his stock amongst Premier League scouts, especially when the January transfer window opens. All we can say is, keep an eye on him in the coming months!