The feeling at Lazio's home ground was anything but joyful this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a team that had let in a total of 10 goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their ongoing dissent in a continuous dispute with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or was there ever a thread maintaining its structure to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team in the summer transfer window, only for him to later acknowledge that the board had failed to disclose the transfer ban they were facing for accounting issues. Speculation that his departure was imminent were unfounded, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic during matches as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other initial five matches, featuring the derby della Capitale. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to ascertain if progress is being made or collapsing.
Matteo's Unforeseen Presence
At least one man kept smiling through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio this year. He was on last season on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his parent club were attempting to extend his stay for another season. The signing restriction forced a rethink. They were unable to reduce their roster without replacements.
He joined originally during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances for Lazio in 2022-23, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Finding His Best Role
Perhaps the manager was continuing to attempt to determine the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Labeled as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
