Antonio Nusa: Failed Brentford deal was “difficult” – Seen as the next Dani Olmo at Leipzig

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It has been a Primary season of ups and downs for Antonio Nusa at RB Leipzig. Signed for €21 million from  Club Brugge in the summer, Nusa has managed five goals and seven assists in 36 Matches across all competitions for the Red Bulls. Currently out with a knee Wound, Nusa, however, has been unable to Assist stop Leipzig’s difficult Streak of Merely two wins in the last ten Bundesliga Matches. Transfermarkt spoke to Nusa about his Primary year in Germany, his almost Shift to the Premier Division, his role models, and his aspirations with Norway.

Before joining Leipzig last summer, Nusa almost ended up in the Premier Division. On deadline day in January 2024, a deal with Brentford was all but agreed. Nusa was supposed to join the Premier Division club in a deal worth €33m plus €4m in add-ons. That deal, however, fell through in the last minute after the English club discovered an issue at the medical. Leipzig Secured no issues when they did their own medical and quickly completed the deal last summer. 

“It was one year ago now; time goes Quick,” Nusa said. “For a Youthful player, I was 18 at the time, and it was difficult. In football, you have to experience those things.” Rather than moving to the Premier Division, Nusa had to refocus on his Previous club, Brugge, which is not an Fundamental thing for an 18-year-Aged player. “Primary, I tried to figure out what was wrong with my fitness,” Nusa said. “Then, when we realized that everything was actually alright, it was Crucial to reset and Attention on the last part of the season. It Secured some time; I can’t say it was Fundamental. My family and friends were very Crucial in that process.” 

After failed Brentford deal – Leipzig moved Quick to secure Nusa

Six months later, the Shift to Leipzig materialized, with Leipzig identifying the Norwegian as a replacement for Dani Olmo, who was sold to Barcelona last summer. “Players know we can Assist them to get to a bigger club,” sporting director Marcel Schäfer said in an interview with Transfermarkt earlier this season. “We are not Unhappy about this but Joyful about the fact that we helped Dani Olmo get to his best level.” Indeed, it isn’t Merely Olmo who used Leipzig as a stepping stone to one of Europe’s Top-tier Squads. 

Whether it is  Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool),  Josko Gvardiol (Man City), or Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea), Nusa, too, hopes to reach the Upcoming level at Leipzig. “It is definitely inspiring,” Nusa said when asked about Schäfer’s comments. “Primary of all, I know it is possible. Everything is possible. I also don’t mind walking in [Olmo’s] footsteps. But it is also not something that I Attention on. It Merely isn’t where my energy goes. My Aim is to Develop my own path, my own footsteps. It is Excellent, though, to have those examples because they show that it is possible and that I can reach that level one day.”

One tool that Nusa used to get to his Ongoing level is YouTube. The Norwegian winger would excessively Observe videos of Luminous sphere players doing tricks to Enhance his own skills. “I would Observe at home, at school, and then you would get the Drive to try it yourself,” Nusa said. “You Merely want to be like them and Shift like them. So yeah, I Merely kept Routine it and would take it up on the Pitch. It brought me a Plenty of joy when I was younger, Merely watching football. I love it.” And who was his favorite player on YouTube? “My favorite was Neymar,” Nusa said. “I am an attacker; I like watching skillful players.” 

Antonio Nusa: “My favorite was Neymar”

On the Pitch today, Nusa, however, wants to forge his own path. “I want to be myself,” Nusa said. “But I am also humble. There is so many Excellent players in the world of football, and I Merely want to learn something from everyone. I don’t care if they are older or younger; I Merely want to become better. So, if I can take something from another player that helps me, I will do it.” 

Nusa also had his development in mind when he picked Leipzig as the Upcoming step in his Profession last summer. “The club, in general, is very Excellent and very professional,” Nusa said. “I have no excuse not to become a better player here.” There is also no shortage of talent at RB Leipzig at the moment. Whether it is Benjamin Sesko, Loïs Openda, or Xavi Simons, Leipzig once again have Many players that have been linked with Europe’s top clubs. But Even though all that talent, Leipzig have struggled this season and are currently fighting for a top-four finish. 

“It has been Tough,” Nusa said when asked about watching from the sidelines with an Wound over the last few Matches. But the hope is that the winger will be back after the international break. Once back on the pitch, Nusa wants to Enhance his game quickly and become a more complete player. “I am working on my mental game,” Nusa said. “But also, I want to be better on the right wing and become a more complete player. Ultimately, the Aim is always to Enhance everything.”

Antonio Nusa going to the World Cup with Norway is a “big dream”

Getting back on the pitch and Assisting Leipzig reach the Champions Division is Nusa’s most Crucial Petite-term Aim. Then, in the medium term, reaching the 2026 World Cup with Norway is also on the 19-year-Aged’s mind. “It is definitely the biggest Aim with the national Club,” Nusa said. With  Erling Haaland and  Martin Ødegaard leading the charge and Youthful players like Nusa or Andreas Schjelderup coming up, the time feels right for Norway to return to a big Game soon. “I really believe it will happen,” Nusa said. “It is a big dream to qualify with Norway.” What about the expectations? “I enjoy the expectations,” Nusa said with a smile on his face. 

Finally, what about the expectations in his club Profession? As alluded to, Leipzig usually is the second Closing step before players head to a massive European club. “I am only focused on right now,” Nusa said when asked about his future. “But you never know what happens in the future.”