The Arsenal squad has undergone a major shakeup recently with multiple transfer deals. The club has now confirmed the departure of defender Nuno Tavares to Lazio on a loan move.
Nuno Tavares Joins Serie A Club SS Lazio
Another Departure From Arsenal
Arsenal have made an official announcement of Tavares’ exit. It will be a season-long loan move that will become permanent if particular sporting conditions are met.
According to The Telegraph’s Sam Dean, Arsenal will receive around £7 million. The deal will also include a sell-on clause of more than 25%. Should Lazio decide to sell Tavares in the future, this will bring in a few million pounds for Arsenal and help recoup the money they spent to buy him.
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Tavares will rejoin former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi at Lazio after the pair played together for Marseille in the 2022/23 season. The “aggressive” defender is the latest senior player to leave Arsenal this summer after Albert Sambi Lokonga, Mohamed Elneny, and Cedric Soares.
How Did Tavares’ Time at Arsenal Turn Out?
Tavares joined the club from Benfica in 2021 for £8 million. Though his Arsenal career isn’t one worth remembering, there were a few highlights, both good and bad, from his spell at the Emirates.
When his departure was confirmed, fans on social media thanked him for his league goal against rivals Manchester United in April 2022. The goal propelled Arsenal to a 3-1 win as they were fighting for a Champions League spot that season.
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His early substitution during an FA Cup clash against Nottingham Forest was another talking point. The 24-year-old was taken off in the 34th minute for tactical reasons, and he expressed his frustration by throwing his gloves away as he came off.
He made just 28 appearances for the Gunners as he spent a couple of seasons away on loan. The Portuguese featured for Marseille in 2022/23, where he scored six league goals, an impressive stat for a defender. However, his attitude let him down and eventually, the Ligue 1 club decided not to sign him. A loan move to Nottingham Forest followed in 2023/24.
