The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy this past Saturday. The home side was losing against Torino, a team that had let in ten goals while netting just two in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or had there never been a thread holding it together in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach in the summer transfer window, before he admitted that the club had not mentioned the transfer ban they were facing for financial irregularities. Speculation that his departure was imminent were unfounded, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
Lazio appeared equally disorganized on the pitch as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining first five games, featuring the derby della Capitale. At any given moment, observers have struggled to ascertain if they are improving or imploding.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Presence
A single player kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to feature for Lazio this year. He completed the previous campaign on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his parent club were pushing for him to stay there for another season. The transfer ban necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster with no new signings.
He signed initially when Sarri was last in charge, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances with the club in 2022-23, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, later stated Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Discovering His Natural Fit
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to work out the specific characteristics of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
