The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had let in ten goals while netting just two in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their ongoing dissent in a continuous dispute with club owner Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or had there never been any cohesion holding it together from the beginning? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, but then he admitted that the board had omitted to inform him about a registration embargo they were facing for fiscal problems. Rumours that he could resign were unfounded, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Roman club appeared equally disorganized during matches as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing their other opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to ascertain if they are improving or self-destructing.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Presence
A single player continued to smile amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio this season. He completed last season at Parma as a loanee and, during the summer break, Lazio were advocating for him to stay there for another season. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. Lazio could not afford to weaken their team with no new signings.
He signed initially when Sarri was last in charge, at that time a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in 2022-23, all but one of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who left after that campaign, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
Maybe Sarri was still trying to identify the specific characteristics of his skill set. Billed as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
