The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, an opponent that had allowed a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with chairman Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Unraveling?
Was Lazio's season unraveling, or did there exist a binding element maintaining its structure in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri to lead the team during the off-season, before he admitted that the club had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for fiscal problems. Rumours that he might quit were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy on the pitch as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining initial five matches, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to ascertain if progress is being made or imploding.
Cancellieri's Surprising Presence
A single player remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio during this campaign. He completed last season with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, his owning club were advocating for him to extend his stay for another season. The registration embargo forced a rethink. They were unable to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He joined originally under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances with the club in 2022-23, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His True Position
Maybe Sarri was still trying to determine the specific characteristics of his skill set. Labeled as a wide forward when he joined, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
