The first team of Al-Ittihad Saudi Football Club continues its intensive behind-the-scenes efforts to bolster its ranks with prominent international players during the upcoming winter transfer window, with a particular focus on strengthening its defense, which has been a source of tactical headaches at times this season. These moves come in response to the demands of the crucial stage of domestic and continental competitions, as "Al-Ameed" (The Dean) seeks to return to winning ways and claim titles.
In a related development concerning this ambitious strategy, reliable Italian transfer market journalist Nicolo Schira revealed that Al-Ittihad's management has serious interest in the talented Portuguese left-back, Nuno Tavares, currently playing for Lazio in Italy. Tavares is seen as a key missing piece in the "Tigers'" squad, given his impressive performances in Serie A, where he combines defensive solidity with the modern attacking flair demanded by contemporary football.
Nuno Tavares boasts an impressive resume and extensive European experience despite his young age, having previously represented major clubs such as Benfica in Portugal and Arsenal in England, in addition to a successful loan spell with Olympique Marseille in France, before settling in the Italian capital, Roma. These diverse experiences in Europe's top leagues have made him a tactically mature player, which explains Al-Ittihad's strong desire to sign him as a key player alongside world-class stars like Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kanté.
However, Al-Ittihad will face a tough challenge in securing the deal, as the player is under a long-term contract with Lazio until June 30, 2029, giving the Italian club significant negotiating power. According to the global statistics website Transfermarkt, the player's current market value is around €20 million, a figure that reflects his considerable improvement. This means Al-Ittihad's management may need to submit a lucrative financial offer to convince Lazio to release him mid-season.
This move comes as part of the massive sports project underway in Saudi Arabia, which aims to elevate the market and technical value of the Saudi Professional League to become one of the world's best leagues. The management of Al-Ittihad understands that fierce competition with Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, and Al-Ahli requires a strong bench and a complete starting lineup free of weaknesses, especially in defense, which is the cornerstone of winning championships.
