The feeling at Lazio's home ground was decidedly gloomy on Saturday afternoon. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had conceded ten goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
A Season Unraveling?
Had their campaign falling apart, or had there never been a thread holding it together from the beginning? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, only for him publicly stated that the board had not mentioned a registration embargo they were about to receive for accounting issues. Rumours that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic in their performances as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining initial five matches, including the Rome derby. At any given moment, it's been difficult to tell if they're getting better or imploding.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Comeback
A single player continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this season. He spent the previous campaign with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his owning club were attempting to stay there a while longer. The registration embargo forced a rethink. They were unable to weaken their team lacking backup options.
He joined in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in the 2022-23 season, all but one of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Uncovering His Best Role
Perhaps the manager was still trying to determine the specific characteristics of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as a wide forward on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
