The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy on Saturday afternoon. Lazio were trailing against Torino, an opponent that had conceded ten goals while managing only two goals in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Unraveling?
Was Lazio's season unraveling, or did there exist a thread keeping it intact in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, but then he admitted that the management had not mentioned a registration embargo they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Speculation that he might quit were not true, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic in their performances as off the field, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other opening fixtures, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, it has been hard to ascertain if they're getting better or self-destructing.
The Youngster's Unexpected Presence
At least one man continued to smile through it. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio during this campaign. He was on last season with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, his parent club were advocating for him to remain there a while longer. The registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to weaken their team with no new signings.
He signed initially when Sarri was last in charge, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances with the club in that campaign, all but one of those as a substitute. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Finding His True Position
It's possible the coach was still trying to work out the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile at No 9. Across 63 games during spells with Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
