The feeling at Lazio's home ground was far from happy on Saturday afternoon. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had let in ten goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Unraveling?
Was Lazio's season unraveling, or had there never been any cohesion keeping it intact to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, only for him admitted that the board had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were about to receive for fiscal problems. Reports that he could resign were unfounded, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy in their performances as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, it has been hard to ascertain if progress is being made or imploding.
Matteo's Surprising Return
One individual remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this year. He was on last season on loan at Parma and, at the start of the off-season, his parent club were advocating for him to extend his stay a while longer. The transfer ban necessitated a reconsideration. Lazio could not afford to weaken their team lacking backup options.
He signed originally when Sarri was last in charge, at that time a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances with the club in that campaign, almost all of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His True Position
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to work out the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
