The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a team that had allowed ten goals while netting just two in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their latest protest in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Had their campaign falling apart, or did there exist a thread holding it together in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, only for him admitted that the club had not mentioned the transfer ban they were about to receive for fiscal problems. Rumours that he might quit were unfounded, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized in their performances as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other first five games, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to ascertain if they're getting better or collapsing.
Matteo's Surprising Return
One individual continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this season. He completed last season on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his parent club were pushing for him to extend his stay for another season. The signing restriction necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances in Lazio colors in 2022-23, all but one of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, would later accuse Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star but then not selecting him."
Discovering His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was persistently working to work out the nature of the player's talent. Labeled as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for the majority of that term as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
