The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy this past Saturday. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had allowed ten goals while netting just two in their previous five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their ongoing dissent in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Coming Unstitched?
Was Lazio's season unraveling, or had there never been a binding element keeping it intact in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, but then he admitted that the board had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Reports that his departure was imminent were not true, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy in their performances as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other initial five matches, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to ascertain if progress is being made or imploding.
Matteo's Unforeseen Presence
One individual remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio during this campaign. He spent last season with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, his owning club were attempting to remain there temporarily. The transfer ban forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad with no new signings.
He signed originally under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 matches in the league for Lazio in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His Best Role
It's possible the coach was persistently working to work out the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
