It was a performance befitting an Arsenal player.
On his first appearance since leaving The Gunners on a loan deal that could become a permanent departure at few months down the line, Nuno Tavares provided a reminder as to why Arsenal signed him in the first place.
At the age of 24, Tavares remains a rather raw talent.
The former Portugal Under 21 international has not really developed as he would have liked since joining Arsenal from Benfica back in 2021. A loan spell at Marseille started in red-hot style before cooling fast, while injuries denied Tavares the chance to really make his mark at Nottingham Forest.
Now in Italy with Lazio alongside former Arsenal and Marseille team-mate Matteo Guendouzi, Tavares still has a lot to prove.
But after marking his Biancocelesti bow with not one but two assists against Serie A giants AC Milan, Lazio coach Marco Baroni can see why Arsenal previously felt that had a real gem on their hands with the all-action full-back.
Arsenal agree £7.5m deal with Lazio for Nuno Tavares
“Tavares is a boy who has great potential. It is no coincidence that he was an Arsenal player,” Baroni tells Radio TV Lega Serie A.
“Beyond this, he is a boy for whom we now have to create a path. He did very well against Milan.”
Driving down the left-hand flank, Tavares fired in assists for both Taty Castellanos and Boulaye Dia within the space of just four minutes after the interval.
In what was his first appearance start February, the Lisbon-born 24-year-old showed very few signs of rustiness.
“He is a boy who has great potential,” Baroni adds. “I am convinced that we will create the right fabric and structure for him to give his best and emerge, because he has incredible potential.”
There has never been any doubt about Tavares’ pure talent.
Even during a difficult spell at Arsenal, there were a few glimpses of his pace and power-packed purpose, his only Gunners strike coming with an instinctive finish in the 3-1 win over Ralf Rangnick’s Manchester United back in 2022.
Now, Tavares has a habit of starting fast. He did so at Marseille, and looks set to repeat the trick at Lazio. The challenge facing Baroni and co, however, is to ensure Tavares can not only fly out of the blocks but also keep the pace throughout an entire campaign.
A flying start to life in Serie A
The signs look good as far as his relationship with Lazio winger Mattia Zaccagni goes.
The Italy international – scorer of that stunning late goal against Croatia at Euro 2024 – already appears to be striking up an impressive understanding with Tavares in his new Stadio Olimpico home.
“In training, you can see the quality of the players. Nuno can be devastating if he expresses his qualities,” Zaccagni tells Lazio Style Channel. “For us, he is fundamental.”
Of course, Tavares’ attacking qualities are nothing new. The question is whether he can hone the other side of his game, Tavares facing plenty of criticism at Arsenal for his perceived defensive weaknesses.
If he can sand down those rough edges, however, the Iberian could prove to be a snip at the £7.5 million fee Lazio have agreed to pay as part of that obligation-to-buy arrangement with the London giants.
Tavares can’t defend? When I arrived at Lazio I also had limitations,” Massimo Oddo, the legendary Lazio full-back, tells Radio Lazale. “Then, obviously, you can always improve.
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