The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, a team that had allowed 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were finishing their ongoing dissent in a long-running conflict with president Claudio Lotito.
A Season Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or had there never been a binding element maintaining its structure in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach this summer, but then he publicly stated that the board had failed to disclose the transfer ban they were facing for financial irregularities. Rumours that he could resign were not true, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic on the pitch as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining first five games, featuring the derby della Capitale. At any given moment, it's been difficult to determine if progress is being made or self-destructing.
The Youngster's Unexpected Return
At least one man remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio this season. He spent last season with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, his owning club were advocating for him to remain there temporarily. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. They were unable to weaken their team with no new signings.
He signed originally under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances for Lazio in that campaign, all but one of those as a substitute. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended after that campaign, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri had superstar potential then never playing him."
Finding His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to work out the specific characteristics of his skill set. Originally described as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
