The feeling at Lazio's home ground was decidedly gloomy this past Saturday. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had conceded ten goals while netting just two in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in a continuous dispute with chairman Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or had there never been a binding element keeping it intact to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach this summer, but then he publicly stated that the club had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were facing for financial irregularities. Rumours that he might quit were not true, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Roman club appeared equally disorganized in their performances as behind the scenes, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to tell if they are improving or collapsing.
The Youngster's Surprising Comeback
At least one man continued to smile amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to be at Lazio during this campaign. He spent last season with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his parent club were attempting to extend his stay for another season. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad with no new signings.
He joined in the first place under Sarri's first spell, at that time a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances for Lazio in the 2022-23 season, all but one of those as a substitute. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who left after that campaign, would later accuse Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
Perhaps the manager was continuing to attempt to identify the specific characteristics of his skill set. Originally described as a wide forward on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
