The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a team that had allowed 10 goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Had their campaign unraveling, or was there ever a binding element keeping it intact to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, only for him admitted that the club had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were facing for fiscal problems. Rumours that he could resign were not true, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio became as messy during matches as behind the scenes, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining opening fixtures, featuring the derby della Capitale. From one game to the next, it has been hard to ascertain if they're getting better or self-destructing.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Comeback
At least one man remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio during this campaign. He was on the last one at Parma as a loanee and, early this summer, his parent club were attempting to extend his stay a while longer. The registration embargo forced a rethink. They were unable to reduce their roster with no new signings.
He joined initially under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances with the club in 2022-23, all but one of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri had superstar potential only to bench him consistently."
Finding His True Position
Perhaps the manager was persistently working to work out the specific characteristics of his skill set. Labeled as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile as center forward. Across 63 games during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
