Former Arsenal defender Nuno Tavares has been told he has the talent to have played for Real Madrid for a decade by his current manager. Gennaro Gattuso, the Lazio boss, made the surprising claim about the Portuguese left-back who struggled to make an impact during his four-year spell at the Emirates.
Tavares joined Arsenal from Benfica for £8 million in 2021 but was a bit-part player in his first season. He was subsequently loaned out three times, to Marseille, Nottingham Forest, and finally Lazio, before making his move to the Italian club permanent last year. The 26-year-old has helped Lazio to an unbeaten start this Serie A season, with the club sitting top after four games.
Gattuso was unequivocal in his praise for the defender's raw ability. "I always said that Tavares is worthy of Real Madrid," the Lazio manager stated. He elaborated on the player's attributes, saying, "He’s got everything it takes. He has pace, right foot, left foot."
The manager also acknowledged Tavares is an unusual character who needs time to recover after matches. Gattuso added that the player knows he has the talent to have had a long career at a club like Real Madrid, but needs help to fully understand his own potential.
Arsenal supporters saw only flashes of the high-potential youngster during his time in north London. Reports at the time suggested manager Mikel Arteta was often annoyed with Tavares' behaviour, leading to his loan to Marseille for the 2022-23 season. That spell was also turbulent, featuring a straight red card branded "absolutely stupid" by one commentator and an incident where he was reportedly kicked out of training for a lack of effort, though he did score six goals.
Tavares himself later criticised Arsenal, saying he wanted a purchase option included in his Marseille loan deal which the Gunners refused. He believed he would have been limited to cup competitions had he stayed, and sought the chance to play regularly in his position in all competitions.
While Tavares seeks to fulfil his potential in Italy, his former club is thriving without him. Arsenal currently sit first in the Premier League with a perfect 12 points from four games, having scored eight goals and conceded just one. They face a tough test next against fifth-placed Brighton on Saturday. Fans can check the full upcoming schedule on the club's fixtures page and see how the squad is shaping up in the current standings.
More detail at Daily Mail Sport
