The feeling at their home stadium was decidedly gloomy on Saturday afternoon. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a team that had allowed ten goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their latest protest in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
A Season Coming Unstitched?
Had their campaign coming unstitched, or did there exist any cohesion keeping it intact from the beginning? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, only for him to later acknowledge that the board had failed to disclose the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Rumours that he might quit were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "misled" him.
Lazio became as messy on the pitch as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, it has been hard to ascertain if progress is being made or imploding.
The Youngster's Surprising Return
At least one man continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to be at Lazio this year. He completed the last one with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his owning club were pushing for him to extend his stay a while longer. The registration embargo forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to weaken their team without replacements.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 matches in the league for Lazio in 2022-23, all but one of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His True Position
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to determine the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Originally described as an attacking winger when he joined, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
