Nuno Tavares
 Tavares with Benfica in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nuno Albertino Varela Tavares[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 26 January 2000[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Lisbon, Portugal[2] | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Left-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Lazio (on loan from Arsenal) | ||
| Number | 30 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2009–2010 | Casa Pia | ||
| 2010–2013 | Sporting CP | ||
| 2013–2015 | Casa Pia | ||
| 2015–2018 | Benfica | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2019 | Benfica B | 19 | (0) |
| 2019–2021 | Benfica | 25 | (1) |
| 2021– | Arsenal | 22 | (1) |
| 2022–2023 | → Marseille (loan) | 31 | (6) |
| 2023–2024 | → Nottingham Forest (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2024– | → Lazio (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2018 | Portugal U18 | 8 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Portugal U19 | 14 | (1) |
| 2019–2023 | Portugal U21 | 16 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:34, 1 November 2024 (UTC) | |||
Nuno Albertino Varela Tavares (European Portuguese: [ˈnunu taˈvaɾɨʃ]; born 26 January 2000) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Serie A club Lazio, on loan from Premier League club Arsenal.
Club career
[edit]Benfica
[edit]Born in Lisbon of Cape Verdean descent, Tavares finished his development with Benfica after three years at city rivals Sporting CP and two stints with Casa Pia.[3][4][5] His manager at Casa Pia, João Silva, drove him home from training every day while also allowing his studies to take priority.[6]
Tavares made his senior debut with Benfica's reserves in the LigaPro, his first match being a 3–2 home win against Covilhã on 27 October 2018.[7] He played his first official game with the first team on 4 August 2019, featuring 90 minutes in the 5–0 victory over Sporting in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira at the Estádio Algarve.[8] His Primeira Liga bow took place the following week, opening an eventual 5–0 home defeat of Paços de Ferreira and adding two assists.[9] However, his weaknesses were exposed two weeks later in a 2–0 loss to Porto in O Clássico, which led him to return to the B side and lose his place to Tomás Tavares, being limited to occasional domestic cup matches in place of Alejandro Grimaldo.[6]
Following a difficult season, and a video posted on the Instagram account of a friend of Tavares where Grimaldo was referred to in derogatory terms, Benfica decided to sell the player in spite of his public apologies.[6] During his spell at the club, he made 41 competitive appearances.[10]
Arsenal
[edit]On 10 July 2021, Tavares joined Arsenal on a long-term contract in a deal worth around £8 million.[11][12] He made his Premier League debut on 13 August, coming on as a late substitute for Calum Chambers in a 2–0 away defeat to Brentford.[13] Following an injury to Kieran Tierney he managed to earn a starting spot, initially achieving good performances and earning praise from coach Mikel Arteta, who especially liked his attacking qualities; however, he also struggled with homesickness, and his defensive frailties, positional mistakes and lapses in concentration led to him being regularly substituted at half-time during matches, most notably when he offered a goal to Diogo Jota in the 4–0 defeat to Liverpool following a misplaced pass.[14][15][16]
Tavares scored his first goal on 23 April 2022, through a calm tap-in after David de Gea had saved Bukayo Saka's curl in the third minute of an eventual 3–1 home win against Manchester United.[17]
Loans
[edit]On 30 July 2022, Tavares moved to Ligue 1 club Marseille on a season-long loan;[18] he wanted to have the option to sign permanently at the end of the deal, but Arteta refused to sanction it.[19] He scored on his debut, a 4–1 home victory over Reims.[20] He repeated the feat the following matchday, in the 1–1 draw at Brest.[21]
Tavares improved his form under manager Igor Tudor, with his attacking style being put to good use in the latter's system.[22][23] On 2 January 2023, however, in the last minutes of a 2–1 away defeat of Montpellier – he had opened the score at the start of the second half – he gave away a penalty after deliberately kicking Arnaud Souquet in the box and was consequently sent off,[24] being handed a three-match ban for his actions two days later.[25]
On 1 September 2023, Tavares joined Nottingham Forest on loan for the season with a £12 million option to buy.[26] Even though he featured more after his compatriot Nuno Espírito Santo replaced Steve Cooper on the bench in December, he totalled only 12 appearances.[27][28]
Forest did not eventually activate the purchase clause.[29][30] On 15 July 2024, Tavares was loaned to Lazio for the 2024–25 campaign with an obligation to buy if certain conditions were met.[31][30]
International career
[edit]Tavares won his first cap for Portugal at under-21 level on 10 September 2019, in a 2–0 win in Belarus for the 2021 UEFA European Championship qualifiers.[32] On 7 October 2021, against Liechtenstein in the next edition, he scored the first goal in the 11–0 rout in Vizela.[33]
Tavares was included in a provisional squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar,[34] but did not make the final cut.[35]
Media
[edit]Tavares was involved in the Amazon Original sports docuseries All or Nothing: Arsenal, which documented the club by spending time with the coaching staff and players behind the scenes both on and off the field throughout their 2021–22 season.[36][37]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 31 October 2024
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Benfica B | 2018–19[38] | Liga Portugal 2 | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||||
| 2019–20[38] | Liga Portugal 2 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 19 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 19 | 0 | ||||||
| Benfica | 2019–20[38] | Primeira Liga | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 16 | 1 |
| 2020–21[38] | Primeira Liga | 14 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[d] | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 25 | 0 | |
| Total | 25 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 1 | ||
| Arsenal | 2021–22[39] | Premier League | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 1 | ||
| Marseille (loan) | 2022–23[38] | Ligue 1 | 31 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | 6[e] | 0 | — | 39 | 6 | ||
| Nottingham Forest (loan) | 2023–24[40] | Premier League | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | |||
| Lazio (loan) | 2024–25[38] | Serie A | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 118 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 152 | 8 | ||
- ^ Includes Taça de Portugal
- ^ Includes Taça da Liga, EFL Cup
- ^ a b Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
Honours
[edit]Benfica
References
[edit]- ^ "2021/22 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ a b c "Nuno Tavares" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ Da Moura, Bruno (19 May 2018). "Benfica de Luis Lopes é campeão nacional de juniores" [Luis Lopes' Benfica are junior national champions] (in Portuguese). DTudo1Pouco. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
- ^ "Benfica confirma cinco jogadores da formação na pré-época" [Benfica confirm five youth players in preseason]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 27 June 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ "Nuno Tavares: outro menino de Lage que a mãe tirou de Alcochete" [Nuno Tavares: another Lage kid that his mother took from Alcochete]. Observador (in Portuguese). 4 August 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ a b c Lowy, Zach (2 July 2021). "Nuno Tavares' ascent to Arsenal". Breaking The Lines. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- ^ "Benfica B vence Covilhã e dorme na liderança" [Benfica B beat Covilhã and sleep in first place]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 27 October 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ a b Ribeiro, Patrick (4 August 2019). "Benfica stick five past Sporting in season curtain-raiser". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
- ^ ""Golo do Nuno Tavares? Ninguém estava à espera que ele aparecesse ali, nem eu..."" ["Nuno Tavares' goal? Nobody expected he would appear there, not even me..."]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 11 August 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
- ^ "Benfica confirma transferência de Nuno Tavares para o Arsenal" [Benfica confirm transfer of Nuno Tavares to Arsenal]. Público (in Portuguese). 10 July 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ "Welcome Nuno! | Tavares joins us from Benfica". Arsenal F.C. 10 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ "Nuno Tavares: Arsenal sign left-back from Benfica in £8m deal". BBC Sport. 10 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ McNulty, Phil (13 August 2021). "Brentford 2–0 Arsenal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- ^ Desmond, Rhys (19 December 2021). "Mikel Arteta – Arsenal – Tactical analysis (2021–22 edition)". The Mastermindsite. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- ^ "Arsenal loanees Nuno Tavares & Folarin Balogun grab debut goals". Medium. 8 August 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- ^ Freeman, Will (12 September 2022). "Why Nuno Tavares is enjoying life at Marseille alongside former Arsenal player Matteo Guendouzi". Football London. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- ^ McNulty, Phil (23 April 2022). "Arsenal 3–1 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ "Nuno Tavares joins Marseille on loan". Arsenal F.C. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ Marsh, Dan (12 September 2022). "Mikel Arteta's transfer "solution" vindicated as wantaway Arsenal star thrives". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
- ^ Frand, Arthur (7 August 2022). "Ligue 1. L'OM s'amuse face à Reims avec un doublé de Luis Suarez lors de la première journée" [Ligue 1. OM have fun against Reims with Luis Suarez brace in matchday one]. Ouest-France (in French). Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ Pugmire, Jerome (14 August 2022). "Sanchez makes debut for Marseille in a 1–1 draw at Brest". Associated Press. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ Killen, Stephen; Martin, Laurie (8 September 2022). "Nuno Tavares' crucial Arsenal problem revealed amid Matteo Guendouzi 'flourishing' at Marseille". Football London. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- ^ "EPL: He doesn't even realise his qualities – Marseille boss, Tudor hails Arsenal star". Saga Gist. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- ^ McAvoy, Callum (3 January 2023). "Arsenal loanee Nuno Tavares 'lost his mind' after getting sent off for horror tackle". Metro. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- ^ "OM. Nuno Tavares suspendu trois matches" [OM. Nuno Tavares with three-match suspension]. Ouest-France (in French). 4 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- ^ "Forest sign Nuno Tavares on loan from Arsenal". Nottingham Forest F.C. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ Smart, Ryan (10 April 2024). "What happened to the Arsenal outcast 'kicked out of training' who 'annoyed' Mikel Arteta". SPORTbible. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ Holland, Josh (21 May 2024). "Arsenal miss out on crucial transfer windfall as Mikel Arteta handed headache". Football London. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ Critchlow, Dan (21 May 2024). "Arsenal loanee's club confirm they aren't activating purchase clause". Daily Cannon. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ a b Onyeagwara, Nnamdi; McNicholas, James (15 July 2024). "Arsenal defender Nuno Tavares joins Lazio on loan". The Athletic. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "Nuno Tavares completes loan move to Lazio". Arsenal F.C. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "Portugal vence Bielorrússia e sobe à liderança do Grupo 7" [Portugal beat Belarus and climb to first place in Group 7]. Record (in Portuguese). 10 September 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ "Goleada histórica. Seleção de sub-21 vence Liechtenstein por 11–0" [Historic rout. Under-21 national team defeat Liechtenstein 11–0]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 7 October 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ Thanveer, Dakir Mohammed (25 October 2022). "Portugal reportedly name provisional 55-man squad for 2022 FIFA World Cup; Liverpool star receives surprise call up". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
- ^ "Os 26 convocados de Portugal: Gonçalo Ramos, António Silva, Otávio e Matheus Nunes chamados" [Portugal select 26: Gonçalo Ramos, António Silva, Otávio and Matheus Nunes called] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ "Full 'All Or Nothing' trailer released". Arsenal F.C. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ All or Nothing: Arsenal | Official full trailer 🎬. Amazon Prime Video. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c d e f "Nuno Tavares". Soccerway. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- ^ "Games played by Nuno Tavares in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- ^ "Games played by Nuno Tavares in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
External links
[edit]
- Arsenal official profile
- Nuno Tavares at Premier League
- Nuno Tavares at ForaDeJogo (archived)
- Nuno Tavares – French league stats at Ligue 1 – also available in French
- Nuno Tavares national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)
