The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, a team that had conceded ten goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in a continuous dispute with president Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Unraveling?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or had there never been a binding element holding it together to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, only for him to later acknowledge that the management had failed to disclose the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Speculation that his departure was imminent were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Roman club appeared equally disorganized during matches as behind the scenes, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other first five games, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to tell if they're getting better or self-destructing.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Presence
One individual kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio during this campaign. He was on the last one with Parma on loan and, early this summer, Lazio were attempting to extend his stay temporarily. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster without replacements.
He signed originally when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 matches in the league for Lazio in 2022-23, the vast majority of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Finding His Best Role
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to identify the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a flank player on arrival, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
