In a move reflecting Al-Ittihad's ambitions to strengthen its squad and compete strongly for domestic and continental titles, Portuguese left-back Nuno Tavares, currently with Italian club Lazio, has given his initial approval to join the Saudi club during the upcoming winter transfer window. This development comes after intensive negotiations that resulted in an agreement on all financial and contractual terms between the two parties in the past few hours.
Financial offer details and source
According to Italian transfer market expert Mario Marito, who revealed the news on his official X platform, Al-Ittihad's management has successfully convinced the player of the club's project. Marito indicated that "in the past few hours, Nuno Tavares has officially accepted Al-Ittihad's offer to acquire his services during the upcoming winter transfer window.".
Reports indicate that the deal will cost the Jeddah club an estimated 15 million euros, as negotiations are currently underway with the management of Lazio to finalize the player's transfer to wear the yellow and black jersey next January.
Tavares' career: physical strength and European experience
Nuno Tavares, 24, is one of the most prominent names in the left-back position in Europe today. He began his professional career at the Benfica academy in Portugal before moving to Arsenal in 2021. Tavares had several loan spells with prestigious clubs such as Olympique Marseille in France and Nottingham Forest in England before settling in Serie A with Lazio.
Tavares possesses immense physical capabilities and exceptional speed, giving him an advantage in both attacking runs and defensive transitions – qualities Al-Ittihad currently lacks in this crucial position. The addition of a player with his experience in the top five European leagues will be a significant boost to the team's defense.
Context of the deal and the federation's needs
These moves come as Al-Ittihad officials seek to bolster the team's defense and address weaknesses exposed during the current season. This desire aligns with the coaching staff's vision, which aims to find flexible tactical options to improve the team's performance, especially given the fierce competition in the Saudi Professional League with clubs like Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, and Al-Ahli.
This interest reflects the general trend among Saudi clubs to attract young stars from Europe, not just veteran players, thus enhancing the market and technical value of the Saudi league and placing it in the global spotlight. If the deal is finalized, Tavares is expected to be a key player in Al-Ittihad's lineup for the second half of the season.
