The mood at Lazio's home ground was decidedly gloomy this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had let in a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in a continuous dispute with club owner Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or did there exist a binding element maintaining its structure in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri to lead the team in the summer transfer window, only for him admitted that the club had failed to disclose the transfer ban they were about to receive for accounting issues. Reports that he could resign were without basis, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized during matches as behind the scenes, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining first five games, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, it has been hard to ascertain if they're getting better or self-destructing.
Cancellieri's Surprising Comeback
One individual continued to smile amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this year. He completed the previous campaign on loan at Parma and, early this summer, his parent club were pushing for him to stay there temporarily. The transfer ban forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad without replacements.
He signed in the first place under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances for Lazio in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
Perhaps the manager was still trying to determine the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Originally described as an attacking winger when he joined, Cancellieri yet was deployed for the majority of that term as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
