The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had allowed 10 goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Coming Unstitched?
Was Lazio's season falling apart, or had there never been any cohesion keeping it intact in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as head coach in the summer transfer window, but then he publicly stated that the club had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were facing for accounting issues. Reports that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized during matches as off the field, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining initial five matches, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, it has been hard to ascertain if they're getting better or collapsing.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Return
One individual kept smiling amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to remain with Lazio this year. He completed last season at Parma as a loanee and, at the start of the off-season, Lazio were advocating for him to stay there a while longer. The signing restriction forced a rethink. They were unable to thin their squad lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived initially under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 matches in the league with the club in the 2022-23 season, almost all of those from the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, subsequently claimed Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was still trying to work out the exact type of his skill set. Originally described as an attacking winger when he joined, Cancellieri yet was deployed for the majority of that term as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. Across 63 games while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
