Lazio left-back Nuno Tavares is being linked with a move to Turkish giants Beşiktaş, with the probability of a deal currently rated at 40% according to data from Transfermarkt.
The 26-year-old defender, who represents both Portugal and Cape Verde at nationality level, is rumoured to be under consideration as Beşiktaş look to strengthen their options on the left side of defence for the Süper Lig. Tavares is currently on the books at Lazio, having joined the Serie A side from Arsenal after a series of loan spells across Europe. With his market value listed at €15.00m, any move is likely to involve significant negotiation, though the absence of clear contract expiry details opens up the possibility that his situation could evolve towards a cut‑price exit or even a future free‑agent scenario if no agreement is reached.
Tavares has built a varied CV since emerging from the Benfica academy in Lisbon. After progressing from Benfica’s youth ranks through their B team to the first team, he earned a move to Arsenal, where he featured as an attack-minded left-back and occasionally as a more advanced wide defender. Loan stints followed at Olympique Marseille in Ligue 1 and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, exposing him to three of Europe’s top competitions before he settled in Rome with Lazio in Serie A.
Recent seasons in Italy have seen his market value fluctuate, rising as high as €25m during his time at Lazio before easing back to €15m by late 2025, reflecting mixed form but also the enduring belief in his potential. Standing at 1.83m and naturally left‑footed, he offers pace and direct running from deep, qualities that could appeal to Beşiktaş as they remodel their squad.
While precise contract details at Lazio remain unclear, the current 40% likelihood attached to the move suggests talks or at least serious interest are in their early stages rather than at a decisive point. Beşiktaş, long known for attracting high‑profile names from Europe’s major leagues, would be adding a defender with experience in Portugal’s Primeira Liga, England’s Premier League, France’s Ligue 1 and Italy’s Serie A.
Born in Lisbon on 26 January 2000, Tavares has already experienced a nomadic career path, moving from Sporting CP’s youth set‑up to Casa Pia and then to Benfica before his step into England with Arsenal. A transfer to Istanbul would mark another change of footballing culture, placing him in the intense atmosphere of the Süper Lig and European qualification battles that often come with Beşiktaş.
If the move does materialise, it could offer Tavares a platform to reassert himself as a first‑choice left-back, stabilise his market value and reshape the narrative of a career that has so far been defined by promise, movement and moments of inconsistency rather than long‑term continuity.
