Reliable Italian media reports have revealed the latest developments regarding the future of Portuguese left-back Nuno Tavares, currently playing for Lazio, amid growing interest from Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad in acquiring his services during the upcoming winter transfer window. The Italian club's management has reportedly set a price tag for the player, taking into account the financial implications of his transfer to his former club, Arsenal.
Details of Lazio's financial demands
According to a report published Wednesday by Sport Mediaset, Lazio have set a minimum price of €15 million for the transfer of Tavares. This high price tag stems from a clause in Tavares' contract that grants Arsenal up to 35% of any future resale fee , as stipulated in the agreement when the player joined the Italian club. This clause necessitates Lazio's insistence on a substantial fee to ensure a substantial return for the club after deducting Arsenal's share.
Tavares' journey: from Lisbon to Rome
To understand the significance of this deal, one must consider the professional career of the 25-year-old player. Tavares began his career with Portuguese club Benfica, where his physical attributes and impressive speed caught the eye, prompting Arsenal to sign him in the summer of 2021/2022. Despite a strong start, the player went on several loan spells to gain experience, most notably with French club Olympique Marseille, where he delivered outstanding attacking performances, followed by Nottingham Forest in England, before finally settling at Lazio, who made his loan move permanent.
The importance of the deal for Al-Ittihad Club and the sporting context
This deal is particularly important for Al-Ittihad, who are looking to bolster their squad with a modern left-back possessing both attacking flair and physical strength – qualities Tavares embodies. This move is part of a broader trend among Saudi clubs to attract top players from major European leagues, aiming to raise the level of competition in the Saudi Professional League.
On the technical level, Tavares participated with Lazio during the current season in 10 matches, and although the aforementioned statistics indicate that he created one goal and received a yellow card during 533 minutes of play, his market value and capabilities make him a strategic option for Al-Ittihad, especially with the team’s aspirations to compete for all local and continental titles.
