The feeling at Lazio's home ground was far from happy on Saturday afternoon. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a team that had conceded a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Unraveling?
Was Lazio's season falling apart, or had there never been a binding element keeping it intact in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri to lead the team in the summer transfer window, only for him to later acknowledge that the management had omitted to inform him about a ban on new signings they were facing for accounting issues. Reports that he could resign were not true, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy in their performances as behind the scenes, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other initial five matches, featuring the derby della Capitale. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to determine if progress is being made or imploding.
The Youngster's Surprising Comeback
One individual continued to smile amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this season. He was on the previous campaign on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, Lazio were attempting to extend his stay for another season. The signing restriction necessitated a reconsideration. They were unable to weaken their team with no new signings.
He joined initially under Sarri's first spell, at that time a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances for Lazio in that campaign, almost all of those from the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential only to bench him consistently."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was persistently working to work out the nature of his skill set. Originally described as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
