The mood at Lazio's home ground was far from happy this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had let in a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Unraveling?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or was there ever a thread keeping it intact in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, before he publicly stated that the club had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were facing for fiscal problems. Speculation that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "deceived" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic on the pitch as behind the scenes, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the rest of their initial five matches, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to tell if progress is being made or collapsing.
Matteo's Surprising Presence
At least one man remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to be at Lazio this year. He spent last season at Parma as a loanee and, early this summer, his parent club were pushing for him to stay there for another season. The transfer ban necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to weaken their team lacking backup options.
He joined originally under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances with the club in 2022-23, almost all of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star but then not selecting him."
Finding His True Position
Maybe Sarri was persistently working to work out the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Originally described as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma in the past two years, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
