Lazio's Gennaro Gattuso Praises Nuno Tavares, Suggests Real Madrid Future Amid Serie A Rise
Lazio coach Gennaro Gattuso has publicly stated that Nuno Tavares, once an Arsenal player, has the qualities to compete at Real Madrid. The Portuguese left-back struggled in the Premier League but has revived his career in Italy.
Tavares’s Journey to Italy
Tavares joined Arsenal from Benfica in 2021 with high hopes but found it tough to secure a regular spot under Mikel Arteta. He experienced loan moves to Marseille, Nottingham Forest, and eventually Lazio. After an initial loan to Lazio, the Italian club made his transfer permanent last year.
Following Maurizio Sarri’s exit, Gattuso took charge and injected fresh energy into Lazio. The team started the current Serie A season unbeaten with three wins and one draw, leading the title race early on. Tavares has been key to this success, starting almost every match and fitting well into Gattuso’s tactics.
Gattuso's High Praise for Tavares
Gattuso praised Tavares’s technical skill and physicality during an interview with DAZN. He declared, "I’ve always said that Tavares is worthy of Real Madrid. This is a player who ought to be at Real Madrid. He’s got everything it takes, he has pace, right foot, left foot."
Still, Gattuso acknowledged the mental struggles Tavares has faced. He compared the player’s unfulfilled promise to losing a large inheritance quickly, saying, "He feels like someone who lost his parents young, received a big inheritance, and in five years it went up in smoke."
The manager believes Tavares’s biggest challenge is gaining confidence and focus. Gattuso added, "He knows he has talent and could’ve had 10-12 years at Real Madrid with his qualities. You’ve just got to get him to understand. He is unusual and after a match he needs his time to recover, but he’s a good lad. You need to get into his head and make him understand."
From Premier League Struggles to Serie A Stability
Tavares’s move to Arsenal for £8 million did not go as planned due to defensive errors and inconsistency. But his time in Italy seems to have provided the stability he needed. Now in his third season with Lazio, he looks more settled and able to develop his game in a supportive environment.
Upcoming Challenge: Venezia Test
Tavares aims to keep up his form when Lazio faces newly promoted Venezia this weekend. Lazio’s priority remains maintaining their strong start and securing a top-four spot. If Tavares continues this level and follows Gattuso’s advice, he may finally reach the potential that brought him to Europe’s top leagues.
- Carabao Cup: Ipswich Town vs Arsenal, 15 Sept 2026, 22:00
- Serie A: Venezia vs Lazio, 19 Sept 2026, 21:45
