Farioli Trying to Lure Lazio Full-Back to Porto | OneFootball

Porto manager Francesco Farioli is reportedly hellbent on recruiting Lazio left-back Nuno Tavares this summer.

The Background

The Portuguese international is coming off a difficult campaign under Maurizio Sarri, but one that served as an important learning experience. The 26-year-old eventually regained his starting role after displaying noticeable improvement in his defending and tactical discipline.

Therefore, Gennaro Gattuso is planning to include Tavares in his plans for next season, after missing out on coaching him at Olympique Marseille, when the latter had returned to Arsenal by the time the manager took over. However, the full-back’s future remains uncertain amid growing interest in his services.

Francesco Farioli Wants Nuno Tavares at Porto

In recent days, Besiktas and Fiorentina have been mentioned as suitors, but according to Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla, Porto are the frontrunners for the player’s services. The source reveals that Dragao’s Italian head coach, Farioli, has already contacted Tavares’ entourage in an attempt to sway them.

Lazio Seeking Comprehensive Offer for Tavares

The Lisbon native began his career at Sporting Club and eventually rose to prominence at Benfica, but he could be tempted to return to his home country, even if it means joining an old rival. He left Portugal in the summer of 2021 when he made the move to Arsenal.

The Gunners remain an interested party due to their 35% sell-on fee. However, sources believe Claudio Lotito won’t sell Tavares for anything less than €20 million, so it remains to be seen if Porto are willing to shell out a significant sum.