Nuno Tavares leaves Arsenal following an inconsistent spell that saw him loaned out three times, with Lazio now reportedly looking to sell him on immediately.
ROME, ITALY: Nuno Tavares of SS Lazio in action during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Genoa at Stadio Olimpico on October 27, 2024. (Photo by Marco Rosi - SS Lazio/Getty Images)
Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images
The Portuguese left-back joined Arsenal from Benfica in July 2021 for a reported £7 million. He made 28 appearances in total and scored once, finding the net in a 3–1 win over Manchester United in April 2022.
Despite showing flashes of promise, particularly going forward, his lack of defensive discipline ultimately saw him fall out of favour under Mikel Arteta.
Tavares spent the past three seasons out on loan. He enjoyed a productive spell with Marseille in 2022–23, scoring six times in 39 games, and spent the following year with Nottingham Forest, although injuries restricted him to just 12 appearances.
He joined Lazio on loan in 2024–25 and made 30 appearances, providing nine assists, eight of which came in his first 10 league games.
ROME, ITALY - AUGUST 31: Nuno Tavares (R) of SS Lazio in action during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on August 31, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi - SS Lazio/Getty Images)
Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images
His form in Italy earned him a senior debut for Portugal in November 2024, coming on in a 5–1 win against Poland in the UEFA Nations League. It was a milestone that hinted at a turning point in his career, but injuries once again hampered his progress.
During the second half of the season with Lazio, Tavares suffered three separate muscular injuries. He first sustained a hamstring issue in November, followed by an adductor problem in January. A third setback arrived in March. Although he returned briefly, he was forced off again after only 26 minutes in a match against Bodo/Glimt in April and did not feature again.
TAVARES MOVE LAZIO REDEMPTION The purchase outright is already expected at the beginning of the summer: the idea is to close before The company will try to anticipate the deal with Arsenal taking advantage of the new window etra Corriere dello Sport5 Mar 2025 Buying it was like discovering a treasure. For the Moderna tariff of the market Nuno Tavares is a gigantic blank check, a safe multimillion cashing. All Lazians hope that he can be treasured, that he can be preserved for a long time. It will not be easy, already in the summer. Lazio knows it and to be ready for anything is studying a plan that allows to close the redemption at the beginning of June, in the e finestra It will last 10 days, from 1 to 10 June, it will be valid for the Leagues of the teams participating in the Club World Cup. In Italy it was ratified by the Figc at the request of the A League so as to allow Inter and Inter MOVE. Lazio will take the opportunity to try to redeem Tavares before the deadline set at the end of June, the e finestra The deal with Arsenal provides for the payment of Tavares for only 5 million, a trifle compared to the current value. By the way, the payment, was planned installment: one million per year for five years. A double gift. On the listing of Tavares you can indulge yourself, but it makes a Lotto and has its own scales of values. He refused over 100 million at the height of Milinkovic's explosion, he asked for 120. Tavares is worth no less than 60-65 million according to presidential parameters. The more he flies, the more the price flies. It's not just a matter of valuation, it's also a matter of convenience. Arsenal has 40% on resale, it is guaranteed half cash. That is why Lazio will not easily lower the price. In January, many assaults were repulsed: Chelsea vigilant By redeeming Tavares at the beginning of June, the company would have the opportunity to evaluate any assaults in time and to organize for the possible replacement. Of assaults have already been rejected in January, it was the diesse Fabiani to reveal it:"We could have put in the coffers 150 million, we could not dismantle, we said no because you have to respect the work of Baroni and the fans". Tavares was one of the most desired, there were surveys of Chelsea and other English clubs. He had been rumored of Milan, before the corporate revolution began. There are clubs ready to come out of the closet even knowing that treating such a champion with Lotito is a feat at the limits of exhaustion. PLANE. What will become of the Lazio market will be known only in June, when the future will be clear. Champions yes, Champions no. That would change a lot. With the fourth place secured millionaire cashing and the need to yield could be limited only to a ninety piece. It will also depend on the offer, whether indispensable or not. Fabiani had been clear after the January market: "We are in a cycle of two or three years and we are at 50-60% of the work to be done. There is a path to take, slowly we will try to get to at least 70-80%. Then in July a new bracket will open and new evaluations will be made, I can also give away a player provided I replace him with an equally valid if not better one". Tavares intuition was brilliant. Bet on a talent turned a piece of copper believing that it can return a gold nugget and turn it into a deposit. Now you need golden paper to deal with Lotito.
Corriere dello Sport5 Mar 2025
Two weeks ago, Italian outlet Il Messaggero report that Lazio had activated their option to buy and have already placed Tavares on the market in the hope of turning an immediate profit.
Estimates on the value of the clause vary, with reports placing it between €5 million and €9 million, or roughly £4.2 million to £7.6 million. A sell-on clause was included in the deal, with sources split between 25 percent and 40 percent of any future fee returning to Arsenal.
LONDON, ENGLAND: Nuno Tavares of Arsenal controls the ball during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on September 26, 2021. (Photo by Julian Finney / Getty Images)
Photo by Julian Finney / Getty Images
Lazio’s intent appears to be to cash in quickly, but Arsenal’s business is done. The club issued a short statement thanking Tavares for his contribution and wishing him well in the future. They will no doubt be looking forward to the extra cash from his sell-on, especially if they are planning on spending €38m on a 17-year-old.
Tavares joined Benfica’s academy in 2015 and won silverware with the first team at the age of 19, featuring in a 5–0 win over Sporting CP in the Portuguese Super Cup. His pace and attacking instincts were never in question, but repeated positional lapses and undisciplined performances ensured he never settled in the Premier League.
The sale brings to an end a spell that never quite lived up to its early promise. Arsenal, who invested modestly in the player, now walk away with at least a partial return and the possibility of more through the sell-on clause.
For Tavares, the next chapter depends on staying fit and finally delivering on the potential that once earned him a place at one of Europe’s top clubs.
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