The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a side that had conceded 10 goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Coming Unstitched?
Was Lazio's season unraveling, or did there exist a binding element maintaining its structure from the beginning? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, before he publicly stated that the club had not mentioned a registration embargo they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Reports that he could resign were not true, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
Lazio became as messy in their performances as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing their other first five games, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, it has been hard to ascertain if they're getting better or imploding.
The Youngster's Surprising Comeback
A single player remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this season. He was on the last one on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his parent club were advocating for him to extend his stay temporarily. The signing restriction necessitated a reconsideration. They were unable to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He signed originally during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 matches in the league with the club in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star only to bench him consistently."
Finding His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was still trying to work out the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Labeled as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile as center forward. Across 63 games while playing for Empoli and Parma in the past two years, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
