The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had conceded ten goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their latest protest in a continuous dispute with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Had their campaign unraveling, or had there never been a binding element holding it together to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, only for him publicly stated that the club had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Rumours that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "misled" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic in their performances as behind the scenes, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. At any given moment, observers have struggled to determine if progress is being made or self-destructing.
The Youngster's Unexpected Comeback
One individual kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to remain with Lazio this year. He completed the previous campaign with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, Lazio were pushing for him to remain there a while longer. The transfer ban necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He joined initially when Sarri was last in charge, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 matches in the league with the club in that campaign, 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 True Position
It's possible the coach was persistently working to work out the nature of the player's talent. Originally described as a wide forward on arrival, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
