Nuno Tavares was seriously underwhelming for Arsenal after moving to the Emirates from Benfica.
However, he has showcased his true ability whilst on loan out in Italy with Lazio this season.
He has pace and power in abundance, and has everything you would usually look for in a modern day full-back.
However, he never hit the heights that were expected of him at Arsenal, mostly because of his lack of technical ability.
Mikel Arteta has extremely high standards when it comes to players having elite ability in possession of the football.
It seemed like Nuno just wasn’t quite good enough Arsenal, but many Gunners fans have been suggesting that Arteta actually could have done with him this season.
He will likely leave the Emirates in the summer for a nominal fee, but it seems like the Gunners have a nice consolation plan in place.
Big Nuno Tavares twist will put a smile on Arsenal fans’ faces
According to a report from Corriere dello Sport (print edition December 11th, page 27), Arsenal have a huge sell-on clause inserted in the potential deal to sell Nuno Tavares to Lazio.
The 24-year-old left-back is currently on loan with the Serie A side, and he’s been in stunning form for them with eight assists to his name in just 11 games so far this season.
The Italian giants have an option to sign Nuno Tavares for just £7.5 million at the end of the season (talkSPORT), but if they trigger that option, fear not Gunners fans, it could end up being extremely lucrative for the north London outfit.
That’s because Arsenal have included a whopping 40% sell-on clause into the Portuguese defender’s deal.
Now considering the fact that Lazio’s majority owner and president Claudio Lotito has suggested that he wouldn’t even sell Nuno for £58 million, Arsenal could be in for a huge windfall in the not too distant future.
Even if Lazio sold the former Benfica man for £30 million in a few year’s time, Arsenal would be due £12 million from that sale.
So perhaps the Gunners’ decision to move him on wasn’t as bad as first thought.