The feeling at Lazio's home ground was far from happy this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a side that had let in ten goals while netting just two in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their latest protest in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Unraveling?
Had their campaign unraveling, or had there never been any cohesion holding it together from the beginning? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, only for him to later acknowledge that the management had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were facing for financial irregularities. Rumours that he could resign were unfounded, but he stated that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Roman club appeared equally disorganized on the pitch as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the rest of their opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to ascertain if progress is being made or collapsing.
Matteo's Unforeseen Presence
A single player kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to be at Lazio this year. He completed last season with Parma on loan and, early this summer, Lazio were advocating for him to stay there a while longer. The signing restriction necessitated a reconsideration. Lazio could not afford to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, almost all of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Discovering His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to work out the nature of the player's talent. Labeled as a flank player when he joined, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
