Antonio Nusa has the talent to play for a Champions League club in England next season.
That is the view of European football journalist Andy Brassell amid the winger’s standout performances at the World Cup.
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Nusa has started each of Norway’s first two matches in North America this summer.
His country are safely into the last 32 thanks to back-to-back wins over Iraq and Senegal.
A win over France on Friday will see them win group I to set up a clash with one of the best third-placed sides.
Nusa has already scored eight goals in 26 caps for Norway, despite still being just 21.
Meanwhile, he is fresh from an impressive second season in Germany with RB Leipzig.
The forward starred on the left for the Bundesliga outfit, with Liverpool target Yan Diomande on the opposite flank.
‘Norwegian Neymar’
Speaking exclusively to eSPORTY, Brassell was asked if Nusa will once again attract Premier League interest after a successful World Cup.
Tottenham Hotspur have previously explored signing the former Club Brugge youngster, while Brentford pulled out of a move.
Brassell explained: “What is it that makes Nusa so special? Well, he’s a wide player who’s equally effective on both sides, and even some of the best wide players in the modern game are not that.
“So this is something that’s a huge advantage for Leipzig at the moment is they have him on one side and Yan Diomande, who has been closely linked to Liverpool, on the other side. Having them and their ability to swap, I think is really, really useful.
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“We often see Diomande on the right coming onto his left foot and Nusa on the left going onto his right, which is why a few people have floated the rather crass nickname of the ‘Norwegian Neymar’.
“His close control is brilliant, so you can understand the comparison. He’s very, very quick-footed. He’s able to go inside or outside. He’s adding a few goals to his game as well.”
Nusa scored four goals and provided three assists in 31 Bundesliga appearances last season.
Those goal contributions helped Leipzig finish third as they qualified for the Champions League.
Who should Nusa join?
However, Brassell believes Nusa has the quality to line up in the competition for an English club in the near future.
His suggested destination would even see the forward reunite with international team-mate Erling Haaland at Man City.
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He continued: “At 21, he’s played a lot of football at a very high level already and now he’s ready to take it to the next level.
“I could see him definitely playing for a Champions League team in England. There’s no doubt about that.
“If Liverpool hadn’t signed Victor Munoz, I would think they would maybe be in the mix for him. Of course, we know which Leipzig winger they’re interested in and it’s Yan Diomande.
“But there’s a number of clubs that he could do really well (at), maybe if Manchester City shifted Savinho, maybe Nusa is a player who could come in for them down the line because I definitely think he’s someone who could develop with better players around him.
“He’s surrounded by some very good players at the moment, but to find the next level, I think he needs to have a little bit more demanded of him.
“Because the sky’s the limit. Talent’s incredible and maybe he’s going to prove it for Norway in this World Cup.”
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Stay or go?
Interest in Diomande could see Nusa remain at Leipzig for another season, though.
The Ivory Coast star is top of Liverpool’s list of targets as they look to sign a new winger this summer.
Andoni Iraola’s side have already seen an £86.3million bid, including add-ons, rejected by Leipzig.
Brassell has admitted Nusa may be best served by staying in Germany beyond the current transfer window, with Leipzig unlikely to sell both players.
He added: “Now, I feel from a neutral perspective that he should stay at Leipzig, that’s a great place to develop, that we see young players develop into absolute superstars there.
“We look at many of the past that have really worked out. Look at (Dominik) Szoboszlai, (Josko) Gvardiol, so many of them, really.
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“And I just think that would be nice to see him get to that next level, especially with the speed with which Yan Diomande’s accelerated.
“If they are forced to sell him, they’re not going to sell both Nusa and Diomande in the same summer, I wouldn’t have thought, although we’ll see what happens in the next little while.”
Nusa has three years remaining on his current Leipzig deal after signing from Club Brugge in 2024.
During his time in Germany, he has made a total of 71 appearances across all competitions, scoring 10 goals and adding 11 assists.
