The feeling at their home stadium was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had let in 10 goals while scoring only two in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in a continuous dispute with chairman Claudio Lotito.
A Season Unraveling?
Had their campaign falling apart, or had there never been a binding element holding it together to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, before he publicly stated that the board had omitted to inform him about a registration embargo they were about to receive for accounting issues. Rumours that he could resign were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy on the pitch as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other first five games, including the Rome derby. At any given moment, it's been difficult to determine if they're getting better or self-destructing.
The Youngster's Surprising Return
One individual remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio this year. He completed the last one at Parma as a loanee and, at the start of the off-season, his parent club were pushing for him to remain there for another season. The signing restriction necessitated a reconsideration. Lazio could not afford to reduce their roster without replacements.
He signed in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances with the club in 2022-23, the vast majority of those from the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed at the end of that season, would later accuse Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential only to bench him consistently."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was still trying to identify the specific characteristics of Cancellieri's abilities. Originally described as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile as center forward. Across 63 games during spells with Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
