Arsenal flop told he ‘ought to be at Real Madrid’ as new boss admits ‘you’ve just got to get him to understand’

ARSENAL flop Nuno Tavares is so talented he could have spent a decade at Real Madrid, according to Gennaro Gattuso.

Gattuso is aiming to get Tavares’ stop-start career back on track this season after being appointed Lazio boss in June.

The Portuguese international, 26, was poached by Arsenal as a 21-year-old and played 28 games for the Gunners, scoring once.

But his performances were too inconsistent for Mikel Arteta, who sent him on loan to Marseille and Nottingham Forest.

A third loan, to Lazio, saw Tavares rack up eight assists in his first eight Serie A matches.

He then went the rest of the season – and the entirety of the next campaign, having signed for Lazio permanently – without notching another in the league.

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“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.”

Tavares, who has already set up one league goal this term, was picked to start against Gattuso’s old club, AC Milan, on Saturday.

He played the full 90 minutes as Lazio blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2.

Gattuso’s men are still unbeaten with three wins and a draw from the new manager’s first four league games.

Monday 14 September

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