The feeling at Lazio's home ground was anything but joyful this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a side that had allowed ten goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in a continuous dispute with president Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or had there never been a thread keeping it intact to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, but then he admitted that the club had not mentioned a ban on new signings they were about to receive for accounting issues. Rumours that he might quit were unfounded, but he stated that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic during matches as off the field, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to tell if they are improving or self-destructing.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Return
At least one man remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio this year. He spent last season at Parma as a loanee and, during the summer break, Lazio were pushing for him to remain there for another season. The transfer ban necessitated a reconsideration. They were unable to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He joined in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances in Lazio colors in 2022-23, all but one of those from the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, later stated Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to work out the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for the majority of that term as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. During 63 outings on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
