The mood at Lazio's home ground was anything but joyful this past Saturday. The home side was losing against Torino, a team that had conceded a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their previous five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Had their campaign falling apart, or had there never been any cohesion keeping it intact to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach in the summer transfer window, only for him admitted that the board had omitted to inform him about a registration embargo they were about to receive for fiscal problems. Reports that he could resign were unfounded, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic on the pitch as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining initial five matches, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, it has been hard to ascertain if they are improving or collapsing.
Matteo's Surprising Return
One individual remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to be at Lazio during this campaign. He completed the last one with Parma on loan and, early this summer, Lazio were pushing for him to extend his stay temporarily. The signing restriction forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster without replacements.
He signed initially when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in 2022-23, almost all of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential only to bench him consistently."
Finding His True Position
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to work out the exact type of his skill set. Labeled as a wide forward when he joined, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
