The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful on Saturday afternoon. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a team that had conceded 10 goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with chairman Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or was there ever a thread keeping it intact to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team during the off-season, before he admitted that the management had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Rumours that he might quit were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy in their performances as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining initial five matches, which included the capital clash. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to ascertain if progress is being made or self-destructing.
Cancellieri's Surprising Return
A single player continued to smile through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio during this campaign. He was on last season on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his owning club were advocating for him to stay there for another season. The registration embargo forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster without replacements.
He joined in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 Serie A appearances for Lazio in the 2022-23 season, all but one of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed after that campaign, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom only to bench him consistently."
Finding His True Position
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to determine the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. During 63 outings on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
