Menu

Nuno Tavares Reveals Controversial Former Teammate Helped Seal Transfer to Lazio

tavares

Tavares thriving at Lazio. (Credit: Arsenal.com)

Portuguese full-back, Nuno Tavares, has recently secured a loan move to Italian giants Lazio from Arsenal. This transfer comes after a challenging loan season with Nottingham Forest, where he struggled to make a significant impact. However, what makes this transfer particularly interesting is the influence of a controversial former teammate from Arsenal, Matteo Guendouzi.

Nuno Tavares joined Arsenal with high hopes, coming from the Portuguese giants Benfica. However, his time at Arsenal didn’t go as planned. He played just 28 games in his first season, which is pretty good for a new player, but he failed to secure a regular spot in the team.

Though very disappointed with that, he became determined to prove himself, Tavares went on loan to Nottingham Forest last season. Unfortunately, things didn’t improve much there either, as he only made just 12 appearances.

Despite these setbacks, Nuno Tavares remained positive and hopeful about his future. He wanted to return to Arsenal and impress the manager, Mikel Arteta. Regardless the club had different plans for the fullback, leading to his move to SS Lazio.

Arsenal fans have to be hopeful going into the next season. Mikel Arteta has instilled discipline and a winning mentality in the team that should soon give rise to winning trophies.

Arsenal have gone close to winning the league in the last two seasons but fell short on both occasions. Mikel Arteta’s men will now be looking to make it third time lucky and Arsenal tickets will be very much on the rise, with many looking to see how the young squad will respond in the 2024/25 campaign.

How did Matteo Guendouzi help Tavares seal his Lazio move?

Matteo Guendouzi is a name that will still likely stir mixed feelings among many Arsenal fans. The 25-year-old French midfielder who was signed by former Arsenal manager Unai Emery, showed a lot of promise but had a rocky relationship with the current Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta. This poor relationship led to him being sold to Marseille, where he has found more consistency and picked form.

Interestingly, even though Tavares and Guendouzi never played together at Arsenal, they did cross paths at Marseille. Nuno revealed that during his time at Marseille, he and Guendouzi developed a strong friendship. This bond remained strong even after Tavares left Marseille.

When the opportunity to join Lazio came up, Nuno Tavares turned to his friend (Guendouzi) for advice. Guendouzi, who had already been playing at Lazio, spoke highly of the club and the city of Rome. His positive words and encouragement played an important role in Tavares’ decision to accept the move to the Italian side.

Nuno Tavares’  transfer to Lazio is not just a simple loan deal. It includes a clause and obligation for Lazio to make the transfer permanent, meaning this could be the start of a long-term stay in Italy for Tavares. Arsenal also included a sell-on fee in the agreement, ensuring they benefit if Tavares’ value increases in the future.

Speaking to Lazio Style Channel, Nuno Tavares shared his excitement about joining the Italian club. He mentioned how Matteo Guendouzi’s positive feedback made it easier for him to accept the move. Tavares had watched several Lazio games, including key matches against Juventus and in the Champions League, and was impressed by the team’s performance.

What does the Lazio move mean for Nuno Tavares?

For Nuno Tavares, this move represents a fresh start and a new challenge. He expressed his desire for a new project in his career and after discussing it with his family and agents, and then decided that Lazio was the right choice. He is eager to prove his worth and help Lazio achieve their goals.

Reflecting on his time at Arsenal, Nuno Tavares said that he always tried to do his best and maintained a strong mentality, despite the challenges he faced. He acknowledged that sometimes things don’t go as planned, but he remains confident in his abilities and is ready to give his all for Lazio.

The 24-year-old, Tavares has been long criticized by many pundits for lacking enough quality and the heart to play for the club. He however has enough motivation to prove the club, the critics and the fans wrong. But most importantly, he can prove himself worthy, and show why the North London club was willing to part with some funds to bring him from Benfica to England.

Matteo Guendouzi’s involvement in this transfer adds an interesting side to the story. Guendouzi who is known for his fiery personality and controversial moments at Arsenal, Guendouzi’s influence in helping Nuno make this move shows a calmer side of him.

As Nuno Tavares embarks on this new journey with Lazio, he carries with him the lessons he has learned from his experiences at Arsenal and Nottingham Forest. He is however determined to make the most of this opportunity and show what he is capable of on the pitch. For Lazio, Tavares’ arrival brings fresh impetus and great potential to their squad.

Meanwhile, Arsenal continues to focus on their plans for the future under Mikel Arteta. The club has been quite active in the transfer market, making strategic moves to strengthen their team. Nuno Tavares’ departure is part of a broader strategy to balance the squad and ensure they have the right blend of players to compete at the highest level of European football.

Conclusion

Nuno Tavares has continued his journeyman career for the past few years and now finds himself in the Italian side, SS Lazio. He has come out to say that it was former teammate, Matteo Guendouzi that largely inspired this move. Both players who had rocky times at the North London side, now have unique opportunities to prove their quality and get their careers back on track.

For Nuno Tavares, the task is simple: show your talent and work as hard as possible to prove your critics wrong and raise your market value once more. Hopefully, injuries stay far away from the 24-year-old, Portuguese full-back.

, , , ,

No comments yet.

Your thoughts?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Designed by Batmandela