The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy on Saturday afternoon. Lazio were trailing against Torino, an opponent that had conceded 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 latest protest in a long-running conflict with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or was there ever a binding element maintaining its structure to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, before he publicly stated that the board had omitted to inform him about a ban on new signings they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Rumours that he might quit were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Roman club became as messy in their performances as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the rest of their initial five matches, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, it's been difficult to tell if progress is being made or collapsing.
Cancellieri's Surprising Presence
One individual remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio this season. He completed the previous campaign on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his owning club were attempting to stay there for another season. The transfer ban forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived originally under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances with the club in the 2022-23 season, almost all of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed at the end of that season, would later accuse Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star but then not selecting him."
Finding His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was still trying to work out the nature of his skill set. Billed as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile as center forward. Across 63 games during spells with Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
