The atmosphere at Lazio's home ground was decidedly gloomy on Saturday afternoon. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had conceded 10 goals while netting just two in their previous five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their ongoing dissent in a continuous dispute with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Coming Unstitched?
Had their campaign falling apart, or was there ever a binding element keeping it intact to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, but then he to later acknowledge that the board had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were facing for fiscal problems. Rumours that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Roman club became as messy in their performances as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining first five games, which included the capital clash. From one game to the next, it has been hard to determine if progress is being made or self-destructing.
The Youngster's Surprising Comeback
At least one man remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to feature for Lazio this year. He spent the previous campaign with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his owning club were advocating for him to remain there for another season. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster without replacements.
He signed initially when Sarri was last in charge, at that time a 20-year-old product 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. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, would later accuse Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Uncovering His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to determine the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent the majority of that term as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
