Nuno Tavares is unlike any player that Serie A has seen before – the Arsenal loanee is a bullet train that can’t be stopped.
The 25-year-old has been a revelation in Italy since joining Lazio on an initial loan deal last summer – which includes an obligation to buy for around £6million-£7m.
It’s a decision that the Gunners could live to regret with the flying left-back enjoying a renaissance in Italy after struggling to settle in England.
No player has provided more Serie A assists than Tavares’ eight this campaign – six more 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 at the Emirates.
He initially wowed fans with his athleticism when deputising for the injured Kieran Tierney, but his performances soon began to drop with his defensive qualities called into question.
Deemed as surplus to requirements by Mikel Arteta, Tavares is now arguably Lazio’s biggest star.
And he once again left spectators and pundits gobsmacked with his energetic display in Sunday’s 2-1 victory away at AC Milan to help lift Lazio up to fourth spot.
Speaking on CBS Sports, ex-Brentford and Leeds winger Mike Grella insisted Tavares is a one-of-a-kind talent.
Meanwhile 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 analysis, Grella said: “Tavares… drug test him right now.
“He should be in there getting drug tested right now!”
Interjecting, Reo-Coker was also quick to praise his work rate, as he stated: “He was like a Trojan horse today, he just didn’t stop.”
Grella, who was still left in by Tavares, then declared that his uniqueness sets him apart from anyone that has previously played in the Italian top-flight.
He remarked: “I haven’t seen a player like that in Italy maybe ever.
“We’ve [CBS] have been covering it for the last four years, I’ve watched it my whole life.
“But in the last four year, I haven’t seen a player that can run at that capacity and at that power – he doesn’t always have the final product.”
Once again chipping in, Reo-Coker went one step further as he likened him to Zanetti – a player regarded as one of the greatest full-backs in history who won 18 major honours at Inter including the Champions League in 2010.
The 40-year-old said: “Do you know who he reminds me of though?
“The great Inter full-back – Zanetti. There’s a comparison where he reminds me of [him] where I haven’t seen it in so long.”
Having the final say, Grella then stated: “I don’t know if Zanetti was that quick, but my God, this guy is a bullet train.”
Tavares’ only season at Arsenal came in the 2021/22 campaign, before he was shipped off loan to Marseille.
He spent last term at Nottingham Forest, but 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 will be hoping a suitor snaps him up from Lazio this summer to boost their transfer kitty.
