The feeling at their home stadium was decidedly gloomy on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had let in a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Unraveling?
Was Lazio's season falling apart, or had there never been any cohesion holding it together from the beginning? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, before he admitted that the club had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Rumours that he might quit were unfounded, but he stated that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized in their performances as they were off it, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing their other initial five matches, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to tell if they're getting better or collapsing.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Comeback
A single player remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to feature for Lazio this season. He was on the previous campaign with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his owning club were attempting to extend his stay for another season. The registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to weaken their team with no new signings.
Cancellieri arrived originally during Sarri's previous tenure, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in 2022-23, the vast majority of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri had superstar potential only to bench him consistently."
Discovering His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to determine the nature of his skill set. Labeled as a wide forward on arrival, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
