Nuno Tavares is not like any participant that Serie A has seen earlier than – the Arsenal loanee is a bullet practice that may’t be stopped.
The 25-year-old has been a revelation in Italy since becoming a member of Lazio on an preliminary mortgage deal final summer time – which incorporates an obligation to purchase for round £6million-£7m.
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It is a resolution that the Gunners might dwell to remorse with the flying left-back having fun with a renaissance in Italy after struggling to settle in England.
No participant has supplied extra Serie A assists than Tavares’ eight this marketing campaign – six greater than he managed from his 28 Arsenal appearances in all competitions.
Signed from Benfica for £8m in 2021, the Portuguese defender was marred by inconsistency on the Emirates.
He initially wowed followers along with his athleticism when deputising for the injured Kieran Tierney, however his performances quickly started to drop along with his defensive qualities referred to as into query.
Deemed as surplus to necessities by Mikel Arteta, Tavares is now arguably Lazio’s greatest star.
And he as soon as once more left spectators and pundits gobsmacked along with his energetic show in Sunday’s 2-1 victory away at AC Milan to assist carry Lazio as much as fourth spot.
Talking on CBS Sports activities, ex-Brentford and Leeds winger Mike Grella insisted Tavares is a one-of-a-kind expertise.
In the meantime ex-West Ham and Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker likened him to Inter Milan legend Javier Zanetti.
Discussing the full-back in his post-match evaluation, Grella stated: “Tavares… drug check him proper now.
“He must be in there getting drug examined proper now!”
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Interjecting, Reo-Coker was additionally fast to reward his work price, as he said: “He was like a Malicious program right now, he simply did not cease.”
Grella, who was nonetheless left in by Tavares, then declared that his uniqueness units him aside from anybody that has beforehand performed within the Italian top-flight.
He remarked: “I have never seen a participant like that in Italy possibly ever.
“We have [CBS] have been masking it for the final 4 years, I’ve watched it my complete life.
“However within the final 4 12 months, I have never seen a participant that may run at that capability and at that energy – he does not all the time have the ultimate product.”
As soon as once more chipping in, Reo-Coker went one step additional as he likened him to Zanetti – a participant considered one of many best full-backs in historical past who received 18 main honours at Inter together with the Champions League in 2010.
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The 40-year-old stated: “Have you learnt who he jogs my memory of although?
“The nice Inter full-back – Zanetti. There is a comparability the place he jogs my memory of [him] the place I have never seen it in so lengthy.”
Having the ultimate say, Grella then said: “I do not know if Zanetti was that fast, however my God, this man is a bullet practice.”
Tavares’ solely season at Arsenal got here within the 2021/22 marketing campaign, earlier than he was shipped off mortgage to Marseille.
He spent final time period at Nottingham Forest, however flattered to deceive, with the Reds refusing to activate their buy-option following eight Premier League appearances.
With Arsenal boasting a reported 20 per cent sell-on clause in Tavares’ contract, they are going to be hoping a suitor snaps him up from Lazio this summer time to spice up their switch kitty.