Nuno Tavares has spent the last three seasons on loan after he had fallen from Mikel Arteta's plans in Noord -Londen and has now signed a permanent deal with Italian side Lazio
The forgotten man from Arsenal, Nuno Tavares, has completed a permanent move to Italian side Lazio. The Portuguese international, which has spent the last term on loan with the Serie A side, moves a £ 6 million deal.
He has signed a three -year contract in the Stadio Olimpico.
The 25-year-old entered the summer of 2021 at Arsenal at Benfica in a £ 8 million movement, making 28 performances in all competitions. But he never looked an ideal fit on the left in front of Mikel Arteta and occasionally combined exciting attacking trips with somewhat random defense.
As newcomers followed in that role, Tavares was cast aside, on the way to loan to Monaco, then Nottingham Forest and the most last Lazio. In the Italian capital he made an impression, like a wingback and his way to the national team of Portugal, won his first senior international cap when he came up as a replacement in Portugal's 5-1 victory against Poland in the UEFA Nations League last November.
A statement by Arsenal said: “Everyone at Arsenal wants to thank Nuno for his contribution to the club and wish him the very best for the future.”
Tavares will be accompanied in Lazio this season by the recurring former Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri – who has joined the club again 15 months after the departure. Sarri, 66, is back at the helm, replacing Marco Baroni, who led Lazio to a seventh place in the past term – failed of European qualification.
Sarri resigned in March 2024 after five defeats in six games and expressed his displeasure about the transfer policy of the club, after three years the leadership – during which time he led them to second place, their best since winning the title in 2000.
Lazio President Claudio Lotito said earlier this week in a statement: “Maurizio Sarri returned.
“His return is a choice of heart, conviction and vision. With him we want to resume a path that has been interrupted too quickly, aware that together we can bring back enthusiasm, identity and ambition.
“Welcome back to your house, commander.”