Arsenal scouts will be in Belgium tonight to keep a close eye on Antonio Nusa as Club Brugge face Besiktas in the Europa Conference League. Norwegian teenager Nusa is a huge talent and has already scored in the Champions League and at senior level for his country despite only turning 18 back in April.
Nusa is emerging as one of the highest-rated young talents in Europe and could be on the market in 2024. Chelsea saw a £23million bid rejected for the skilful two-footed forward on transfer deadline day in the summer.
The Blues and Manchester United are also expected to have scouts in attendance at the Jan Breydel Stadium. They are not expected to be the only heavyweight European clubs present specifically to watch Nusa first hand.
The Daily Star even claim the Gunners are ‘preparing a bid’ for £30m-rated Nusa after he scored on his Norway debut earlier this month. It is said that Chelsea will also try with a fresh approach in the January window.
The tricky 18-year-old, who can play on both sides or through the middle, also has just two goals and two assists in five Jupiler Pro League matches this season. Club Brugge sit third in the table having scored 19 goals in just six games.
The forward has already earned rave reviews from Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard. He told TV2 over the international break: “Fantastic! He’s an incredibly exciting player. You see it, every time he gets the ball, it’s exciting. He is still young and will get even better. It was cool to see him.
“He deserved to get the chance that he takes it to such an extent. Incredibly cool!” While Nusa’s former Stabaek team-mate Mats Solheim went as far to say: “I can see similarities to Neymar in Nusa’s movements and in the way he uses the ball. There is still a small gap between them, but he can get there.”
Nusa has previously admitted he likes to “create chaos” and sees Neymar as his role model in that respect because of his ability to destroy defences with his dribbling. Similarly, the Brugge wide-man is a nuisance to opposing defenders.
Gaute Larsen, the manager of Stabaek’s second team, says 2005-born Nusa often studied Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Neymar on YouTube while at the club. And the player will hope he can now enjoy a career as successful as the Brazilian trio.
Norway international Nusa will go up against ex-Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and former Manchester United defender Eric Bailly in Brugge’s Group D opener against Besiktas. Bodo/Glimt and Lugano complete the group.
