The atmosphere at their home stadium was decidedly gloomy this past Saturday. The home side was losing against Torino, a team that had allowed 10 goals while netting just two in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Unraveling?
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or did there exist a thread maintaining its structure to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team in the summer transfer window, but then he admitted that the club had failed to disclose the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Reports that his departure was imminent were unfounded, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic in their performances as behind the scenes, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the rest of their first five games, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to determine if they are improving or self-destructing.
Matteo's Unexpected Return
One individual kept smiling through it. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to feature for Lazio this year. He completed the last one with Parma on loan and, early this summer, Lazio were attempting to remain there temporarily. The transfer ban forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He joined originally under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances for Lazio in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential only to bench him consistently."
Finding His Best Role
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to determine the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Labeled as a flank player on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. Across 63 games while playing for Empoli and Parma in the past two years, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
