- Paul Nsio says Raith Rovers team-mates compare his playing style to Paul Pogba.
- Rangers loanee won four Player of the Year awards and the Scottish Challenge Cup.
- Dougie Imrie wants Rangers midfielder Nsio back at Raith Rovers next season.
On-loan Rangers midfielder Paul Nsio has revealed his team-mates regularly compare his playing style to former France star Paul Pogba after a breakthrough campaign with Raith Rovers.
The 20-year-old helped Raith lift the Scottish Challenge Cup and swept four awards at the club’s Player of the Year ceremony,
He has emerged as one of the standout young talents in the Scottish Championship during the second half of the season.
Paul Nsio earns Paul Pogba comparison
Speaking in an interview with Congolese Football News, Nsio explained where the Pogba comparisons come from.
“I like to run with and without the ball,” he said.
“My team-mates often say I have a similar style of play to Paul Pogba.
“I like to express myself on the pitch, score goals and create assists.”
The Rangers youngster also admitted the former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder is the player who inspires him most.
“I’m inspired by Paul Pogba,” Nsio added.
“Even if he made things look easy, he worked for years with a lot of discipline. It shows young players that talent alone is not enough.
“You also need consistency.”
Paul Nsio journey at Ibrox
Nsio joined Rangers from English non-league side Lambeth Tigers in 2022 and revealed he originally started out as a goalkeeper before converting into a midfielder.
“I started football as a goalkeeper before moving into midfield,” he explained.
“I’ve been at Rangers for four years now and this season they loaned me to Raith Rovers.”
The midfielder also reflected on making his professional debut for Rangers at just 16 years old against Queen of the South in 2022 under Giovanni Van Bronckhorst.
“It was an incredible moment,” he said.
“I didn’t think it would happen so quickly.
“When I was told, I thought it was a joke at first, then the staff called me.
“I was very happy and told my parents straight away.”
Nsio featured in the UEFA Youth League against elite opposition including Liverpool FC, Ajax and SSC Napoli.
He later tasted senior European football in the UEFA Europa League squad against Union Saint-Gilloise under Phillipe Clement.
“I was very happy to be involved in the Europa League,” he said.
“I wasn’t expecting it, but when you’re in a professional group you have to be ready for everything.
“It helped me improve and aim for that level every day.”
Rovers want second loan spell
Raith manager Dougie Imrie has already made clear he wants Nsio back at Stark’s Park next season after the youngster’s impressive impact over the final months of the campaign.
“Yeah, I would like to get him back,” Imrie said.
“It’ll be up to Rangers to see the progression for Paul.
“But I think with his age and just having really six months of men’s football, I think the ideal scenario would be for him to come back here and maybe get another 40 games under his belt.
“That’s a discussion for ourselves and Rangers to have and see.
“Hopefully we can get something done for Paul because the last three months he’s been outstanding.”
Read Rangers analysis
After winning silverware and four individual awards during his loan spell, Nsio’s rapid development has given Rangers a highly rated midfield prospect pushing towards the first-team picture under Danny Rohl next season.
