🔗 Share this article

The mood at their home stadium was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had let in a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with president Claudio Lotito.

A Season Unraveling?

Was the team's progress falling apart, or did there exist any cohesion holding it together to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, but then he publicly stated that the club had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were facing for accounting issues. Speculation that he could resign were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "misled" him.

The Roman club were just as chaotic in their performances as off the field, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other initial five matches, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to tell if they're getting better or collapsing.

The Youngster's Surprising Return

One individual remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to feature for Lazio during this campaign. He was on the last one with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, his parent club were advocating for him to extend his stay temporarily. The registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. Lazio could not afford to reduce their roster without replacements.

He signed in the first place when Sarri was last in charge, at that time a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, all but one of those as a substitute. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom only to bench him consistently."

Finding His Natural Fit

It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to identify the specific characteristics of his skill set. Billed as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri yet was deployed for most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. Across 63 games while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he scored seven times. Shoehorn