Lazio manager Gennaro Gattuso has stated that Nuno Tavares, a player who struggled during his time at Arsenal, "should be playing for Real Madrid." Gattuso praised the left-back's talent, asserting that Tavares has "everything" needed to become an elite player.
Tavares, 26, is currently rebuilding his career in Italy after a disappointing tenure at Arsenal, where he was a player between 2021 and 2025. The Portuguese defender joined Arsenal from Benfica for £8 million in 2021 but was limited to a bit-part role in his first season. He subsequently went out on loan to Marseille, Nottingham Forest, and most recently, Lazio.
He permanently joined Lazio last year and has contributed to their unbeaten start to the season, which sees them atop Serie A after four matches. Gattuso expressed his belief that Tavares possesses the necessary attributes, stating, "He’s got everything it takes. He has pace, right foot, left foot."
Gattuso further elaborated on Tavares' potential, noting, "He knows he has talent and could’ve had 10 or 12 years at Real Madrid with his qualities. You’ve just got to get him to understand." This sentiment contrasts sharply with the perception of Tavares among Arsenal supporters, who did not witness his full potential during his time at the club.
During his loan spell at Marseille in the 2022-23 season, Tavares reportedly faced criticism from manager Igor Tudor for a lack of effort in training. He also received a straight red card for an incident against Montpellier, which was described by BT Sport commentator Paul Dempsey as "absolutely stupid" and "completely unnecessary."
Tavares had a notable goal-scoring record at Marseille, netting six times. However, his relationship with his parent club, Arsenal, soured when he publicly discussed his situation. He stated that he joined Marseille seeking to play in his preferred position and expressed frustration that Arsenal refused his desire for a purchase option in his loan agreement. "At Arsenal, I do not know if it was a problem of competition with Kieran Tierney, but for me, that's not even the point," Tavares said. "I came to Marseille to finally be able to play in my position."