The feeling at Lazio's home ground was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, an opponent that had conceded ten goals while scoring only two in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Unraveling?
Had their campaign falling apart, or had there never been a thread maintaining its structure in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, only for him publicly stated that the club had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Reports that he could resign were not true, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio became as messy during matches as they were off it, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining first five games, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, it has been hard to determine if they're getting better or self-destructing.
The Youngster's Unforeseen Return
At least one man continued to smile through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio during this campaign. He completed last season with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, his parent club were advocating for him to stay there temporarily. The signing restriction necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to weaken their team lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place under Sarri's first spell, at that time a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances in Lazio colors in 2022-23, the vast majority of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Finding His Natural Fit
Maybe Sarri was still trying to work out the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a flank player when he joined, Cancellieri yet was deployed for the majority of that term as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile as center forward. During 63 outings during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
