Join Stephen Bradley as he discusses the addition of Nuno Tavares from Benfica to Arsenal’s squad for next season.
He goes over where Nuno Tavares will fit in, and how Arsenal might change their tactics when necessary.
You can also read below how Nuno Tavares rejected larger offer to sign for Arsenal and the 3 clauses in his contract that will trigger additional payments to Benfica.
Nuno Tavares rejected larger offer to sign for Arsenal
Real Sociedad attempted to derail Arsenal’s move for Nuno Tavares, even offering the defender a larger contract but the 21-year-old still opted to sign for Arsenal.
Nuno Tavares has now been officially announced as an Arsenal player. A few days before all that happened, however, Real Sociedad reportedly offered the player more money to move to Spain. The agents involved, however, moved to ensure the deal went through with Arsenal.
The Daily Mail, who landed the Real Sociedad information in an exclusive, wrote, “Sportsmail understands Portuguese agent Cesar Boaventura and UK-based agency Sync Global played a key role in ensuring Tavares’ transfer closed with Arsenal instead of Sociedad.”
Tavares reportedly had his Arsenal medical in Lisbon due to the quarantine rules in the UK. Tavares then had to isolate for five days after he arrived in the country. With the medical already complete, Arsenal could get on with the paperwork to complete the deal.
Mikel Arteta is said to have welcomed the player to the club with a phonecall when he was in quarantine and Tavares will be involved with Arsenal’s entire pre-season calendar.
3 bonus clauses in Nuno Tavares Arsenal deal revealed
Nuno Tavares is now an Arsenal player and, in Portugal, further details of the fee Arsenal have agreed to pay have been revealed.
Nuno Tavares has completed five days in quarantine and has now been officially announced an as Arsenal player. He reportedly had his medical in Lisbon before traveling by private jet to England.
Arsenal are paying a fee of €8m for the 21-year and they were expected to pay up to €2m in add-ons, but this has now changed to €2.5m with the clauses covering three areas, according to O Jogo.
In order for Benfica to receive the full €2.5m, Tavares will have to pick up a senior Portugal cap, make a set, but unspecified, number of appearances for Arsenal and qualify for the Champions League.
While it has been reported that Tavares will sign a five-year deal, O Jogo state that it is a four-year deal with an option for an additional 12 months.
At Humberto Delgado airport, before boarding a private jet headed for London, Tavares declined to make a statement when asked by reporters present. He did reply, however, when they asked him if he had a message for the Benfica fans he was leaving behind.
“Thank you,” he said simply, before disappearing to board.
O Jogo added that Tavares will “comply with the medical examinations required by Arsenal,” indicating that he might not have completed a medical in Lisbon as reported.