The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had conceded ten goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were concluding their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Was Lazio's season falling apart, or was there ever a binding element keeping it intact from the beginning? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, only for him publicly stated that the management had omitted to inform him about a registration embargo they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Rumours that he could resign were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio became as messy during matches as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other initial five matches, featuring the derby della Capitale. From one game to the next, observers have struggled to ascertain if they're getting better or collapsing.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Comeback
At least one man remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio this season. He spent last season on loan at Parma and, early this summer, Lazio were pushing for him to remain there a while longer. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. They were unable to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He joined in the first place under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 matches in the league with the club in 2022-23, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri would be a star only to bench him consistently."
Uncovering His Best Role
Perhaps the manager was persistently working to determine the nature of the player's talent. Billed as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
