The mood at Lazio's home ground was far from happy during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, an opponent that had let in a total of 10 goals while scoring only two in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
A Season Unraveling?
Was Lazio's season falling apart, or had there never been a thread keeping it intact from the beginning? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as head coach this summer, but then he to later acknowledge that the board had omitted to inform him about a ban on new signings they were facing for fiscal problems. Reports that he could resign were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "deceived" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic in their performances as they were off it, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other opening fixtures, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to ascertain if they are improving or self-destructing.
Matteo's Unexpected Return
At least one man remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio this year. He completed the previous campaign on loan at Parma and, early this summer, his parent club were advocating for him to remain there temporarily. The transfer ban necessitated a reconsideration. Lazio could not afford to thin their squad with no new signings.
He joined originally during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 Serie A appearances with the club in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential then never playing him."
Discovering His Natural Fit
Perhaps the manager was still trying to determine the exact type of his skill set. Billed as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
