The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had let in ten goals while scoring only two in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their latest protest in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Was Lazio's season falling apart, or had there never been any cohesion keeping it intact to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, only for him admitted that the board had not mentioned a ban on new signings they were set to be hit with for fiscal problems. Reports that he could resign were not true, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy in their performances as they were off it, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining opening fixtures, featuring the derby della Capitale. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to determine if they are improving or collapsing.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Comeback
One individual kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio this season. He spent the last one with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, his owning club were advocating for him to stay there for another season. The transfer ban forced a rethink. They were unable to weaken their team lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived originally when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances for Lazio in 2022-23, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, subsequently claimed Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Discovering His Natural Fit
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to identify the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Originally described as a wide forward on arrival, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. Across 63 games on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
