The feeling at Lazio's home ground was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had let in ten goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their ongoing dissent in a long-running conflict with president Claudio Lotito.
A Season Unraveling?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or was there ever a thread keeping it intact from the beginning? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, before he publicly stated that the management had not mentioned a registration embargo they were facing for fiscal problems. Reports that he might quit were not true, but he stated that Lotito had "deceived" him.
Lazio became as messy on the pitch as they were off it, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing their other initial five matches, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to determine if they're getting better or self-destructing.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Return
At least one man remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this year. He was on last season on loan at Parma and, at the start of the off-season, Lazio were attempting to stay there temporarily. The transfer ban necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster with no new signings.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 Serie A appearances with the club in 2022-23, the vast majority of those from the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended after that campaign, would later accuse Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Uncovering His True Position
Perhaps the manager was still trying to work out the specific characteristics of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a flank player when he joined, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
