Premier League giants Arsenal look set to beat Napoli to the signature of Nuno Tavares but, according to former Partenopei star Salvatore Bagni, that’s far from a disaster, speaking to AreaNapoli.
Given many Arsenal supporters weren’t enamoured by the potential arrivals of Ryan Bertrand or Patrick van Aanholt – a pair of 30-something veterans whose best years were left in the previous decade – you’d think Tavares would be welcomed with open arms at the Emirates.
Unlike Bertrand and Van Aanholt, the Portugal U21 international is at the other end of his career, a player with the world at his feet and his future laid out in front of him.
What that future will hold is anyone’s guess.
In the present, however, Tavares is closing in on a deal that would see him swap the Estadio da Luz for the Emirates, with Arsenal set to pay an initial £7 million for the attack-minded left-back (A Bola).
Tavares, who was also linked with Southampton and Newcastle United, has agreed a five-year contract in north London, and will treble his wages. He could travel to London for a medical today.
But, after spending the past few months chasing Tavares’ signature, should Napoli be disappointed as one of their top targets packs his bags and boards a flight to England?
Napoli miss out on Nuno Tavares as he nears Arsenal move
“As for left-backs, I read many names. Many would suit me, but not Nuno Tavares,” says Bagni, the tough-tackling foil for Diego Maradona in a Napoli side that tasted Serie A glory in 1986.
“I don’t think he’s ready for the club of Aurelio De Laurentiis (Napoli’s owner).”
If Tavares isn’t ready to play for the fifth-best club in Italy, is he really capable of strengthening Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal squad?
That remains to be seen, of course.
But with just 41 Primeira Liga appearances under his belt, Tavares will certainly arrive with a point to prove.
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