The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had let in 10 goals while netting just two in their last 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 Lazio's season coming unstitched, or was there ever a thread maintaining its structure in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, but then he to later acknowledge that the club had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were facing for accounting issues. Speculation that he could resign were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic in their performances as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining initial five matches, including the Rome derby. At any given moment, it has been hard to ascertain if progress is being made or self-destructing.
The Youngster's Unexpected Return
One individual continued to smile amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to feature for Lazio this season. He completed the previous campaign at Parma as a loanee and, early this summer, his parent club were attempting to extend his stay for another season. The transfer ban necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He signed originally during Sarri's previous tenure, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Finding His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was persistently working to identify the nature of his skill set. Originally described as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile as center forward. Across 63 games during spells with Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
