- Nuno Tavares, Arsenal’s loanee at Marseille, can potentially earn another million euros for Benfica if he is handed an international cap for Portugal.
- The left-back’s performance at Marseille this season could influence Portugal’s squad selection for the upcoming games.
- Arsenal initially paid €8m for Tavares in 2021.
Benfica might be looking at a possible financial boost thanks to a player who hasn’t been on their books for the past two years – Nuno Tavares.
Currently on loan at Marseille from Arsenal, Tavares could significantly fatten up Benfica’s coffers with just one international cap for Portugal.
Tavares transferred from Benfica to Arsenal two years ago, with a contract clause allowing for additional compensation to Benfica based on certain achievements.
One of these, as reported by O JOGO, involves Tavares adding an international cap to his sporting resume, a move that would trigger the flow of one million euros into Benfica’s bank account.
This scenario is gaining traction in Portugal as Roberto Martínez prepares to announce his squad on Monday for the upcoming games against Bosnia and Iceland.
Tavares, who has caused a series of problems at Marseille despite a promising start that saw him score six goals, is one of the potential picks for the Spanish coach.
Interestingly, with the European Championship for under-21s taking place next month, the player could potentially make the squad for that tournament, too. Despite being 23, Tavares started this qualification stage at the age of 21. He already has 12 u-21 caps.
This season, Tavares has played in 37 games for Marseille, managing to score six goals. These stats see him as the Ligue 1 defender with the most goals and the top-scoring Portuguese player, alongside Rony Lopes of Troyes. His attitude, however, has been a major issue.
As we await the squad announcement to see if Tavares secures his international cap, there’s no doubt that Benfica will be keeping a close eye on developments.
A million euros could be at stake, thanks to a player who, while no longer on their team, continues to potentially contribute to their success.
Whether or not he’s able to contribute to Arsenal’s, however, remains to be seen.
