The feeling at Lazio's home ground was far from happy this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had allowed ten goals while netting just two in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or was there ever a thread holding it together to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, only for him to later acknowledge that the board had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were facing for fiscal problems. Rumours that his departure was imminent were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Roman club became as messy during matches as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the rest of their opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to determine if progress is being made or self-destructing.
Matteo's Surprising Return
One individual continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio this year. He completed the last one with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, Lazio were pushing for him to extend his stay temporarily. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. Lazio could not afford to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He joined in the first place when Sarri was last in charge, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances for Lazio in the 2022-23 season, all but one of those from the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed at the end of that season, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to work out the nature of his skill set. Labeled as a flank player when he joined, Cancellieri yet was deployed for the majority of that term as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
