The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful 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 previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their ongoing dissent in a long-running conflict with chairman Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Falling Apart?
Had their campaign falling apart, or was there ever a binding element keeping it intact from the beginning? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, but then he admitted that the management had omitted to inform him about a registration embargo they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Reports that he could resign were unfounded, but he stated that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic on the pitch as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the rest of their initial five matches, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to ascertain if progress is being made or imploding.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Return
One individual remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to remain with Lazio during this campaign. He completed the previous campaign at Parma as a loanee and, early this summer, his owning club were pushing for him to remain there for another season. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. They were unable to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He joined originally when Sarri was last in charge, at that time a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in 2022-23, the vast majority of those as a substitute. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed after that campaign, subsequently claimed Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Finding His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was still trying to identify the exact type of the player's talent. Labeled as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile as center forward. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
