The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy on Saturday afternoon. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had allowed ten goals while netting just two in their previous five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their ongoing dissent in a long-running conflict with president Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Had their campaign falling apart, or had there never been a thread keeping it intact to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, only for him admitted that the club had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were facing for financial irregularities. Speculation that he could resign were unfounded, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic during matches as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing their other opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, it's been difficult to ascertain if they're getting better or collapsing.
Matteo's Surprising Comeback
At least one man continued to smile through it. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio during this campaign. He spent the last one with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his parent club were advocating for him to stay there a while longer. The registration embargo forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances with the club in 2022-23, the vast majority of those from the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Finding His Natural Fit
Maybe Sarri was persistently working to work out the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Originally described as a flank player when he joined, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
