The feeling at their home stadium was anything but joyful this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had allowed a total of 10 goals while scoring only 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.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress unraveling, or was there ever a thread maintaining its structure in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, before he to later acknowledge that the club had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were about to receive for fiscal problems. Speculation that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic during matches as off the field, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it has been hard to tell if progress is being made or imploding.
Matteo's Unforeseen Presence
At least one man remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio this season. He was on the previous campaign on loan at Parma and, at the start of the off-season, his parent club were advocating for him to stay there temporarily. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to weaken their team without replacements.
Cancellieri arrived initially when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in the 2022-23 season, almost all of those as a substitute. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left after that campaign, subsequently claimed Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was still trying to work out the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Billed as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile as center forward. During 63 outings during spells with Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
