The feeling at their home stadium was anything but joyful this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had conceded a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were concluding their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or had there never been a binding element holding it together in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as head coach in the summer transfer window, but then he publicly stated that the club had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were facing for financial irregularities. Rumours that he might quit were unfounded, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Roman club appeared equally disorganized on the pitch as behind the scenes, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the rest of their initial five matches, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, it has been hard to tell if they are improving or self-destructing.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Return
A single player remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio during this campaign. He was on the last one at Parma as a loanee and, during the summer break, Lazio were pushing for him to remain there a while longer. The signing restriction forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He signed in the first place under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in the 2022-23 season, the vast majority of those from the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to work out the specific characteristics of his skill set. Originally described as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent the majority of that term as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
