The feeling at Lazio's home ground was anything but joyful this past Saturday. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had allowed ten goals while scoring only two in their most recent five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in a continuous dispute with president Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or had there never been a thread keeping it intact to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, but then he publicly stated that the management had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were about to receive for accounting issues. Reports that his departure was imminent were unfounded, but he stated that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic on the pitch as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining initial five matches, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to ascertain if they're getting better or imploding.
Cancellieri's Surprising Return
At least one man continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this year. He completed last season at Parma as a loanee and, early this summer, his parent club were advocating for him to extend his stay for another season. The signing restriction necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster without replacements.
He signed originally under Sarri's first spell, at that time a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in 2022-23, all but one of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom only to bench him consistently."
Uncovering His True Position
Maybe Sarri was still trying to work out the nature of the player's talent. Billed as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. Across 63 games on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
