🔥 Leipzig starlet recalls idolising Neymar since childhood
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
Neymar's fame didn't take long to reach Europe as he was taking his first steps in his professional career.
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And forward Antônio Nusa, a promising player from RB Leipzig who has been called the 'Norwegian Neymar', didn't need much time on social media to become a big admirer of Santos' number 10.
In an exclusive interview with OneFootball, the forward recalled that he has been watching videos of the Brazilian since before his transfer to Barcelona: "Yes, for a long time," he acknowledged, who turned 20 in April.
That is, while Neymar was winning his first major titles with Peixe, the current RB Leipzig player was still just a child.
Moreover, the habit of watching goals and dribbles from his idol accompanies Nusa to this day, and this Wednesday (28), they may share the same field when RB Leipzig and Santos face off in Bragança Paulista, in the interior of São Paulo.
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"I still watch him on YouTube every day," he assured, before explaining the reason for such admiration: "I think he brings a lot of fun to football. I think that's what football is: being able to express yourself on the field. He plays in his own style and I like that. It makes me want to play in my own style too".
The promise that used to like to imitate Neymar's celebrations and haircuts as a child hardly knew how to react when RB Leipzig confirmed the friendly match this Wednesday.
"When I found out we would play against Santos I said: 'It can't be. No chance'. I'm really excited," he commented.
1st season in Germany
The nickname 'Norwegian Neymar', however, he prefers to leave aside to build his own career without major comparisons, which has already shown signs that it can be very positive.
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Nusa was signed by Leipzig at the beginning of the 2024/25 season, from Bugge, Belgium, where he had played for the previous three years.
He was directly involved in a goal in the first three games played with the German club's shirt, even coming off the bench only in the second half in all of them.
In the round of 16 of the German Cup, against Eintracht Frankfurt, the Norwegian added three assists in Leipzig's 3 x 0 victory.
However, the last few months also had negative points, such as the injury that kept him off the fields for nine rounds of the Bundesliga this year.
Despite the ups and downs, Nusa believes he is already adapted to German football.
"It's different, of course, but the Bundesliga is great. I'm ready to start my second year and I hope it will be very good," he assured.
📸 Helge Prang - 2024 Getty Images
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