The feeling at Lazio's home ground was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had conceded 10 goals while netting just two in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Unraveling?
Had their campaign falling apart, or was there ever a binding element holding it together in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, before he publicly stated that the club had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Reports that he could resign were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy during matches as off the field, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the rest of their opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to ascertain if progress is being made or self-destructing.
Matteo's Unexpected Comeback
A single player remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to feature for Lazio this season. He was on the last one at Parma as a loanee and, early this summer, his owning club were attempting to extend his stay temporarily. The signing restriction necessitated a reconsideration. They were unable to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He joined originally under Sarri's first spell, at that time a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances with the club in 2022-23, almost all of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left after that campaign, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Finding His True Position
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to identify the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Originally described as a flank player when he joined, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. Across 63 games during spells with Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
