🔗 Share this article

The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had let in ten goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in a continuous dispute with club owner Claudio Lotito.

The Campaign Falling Apart?

Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or was there ever a binding element holding it together in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach this summer, before he to later acknowledge that the management had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were set to be hit with for accounting issues. Rumours that he might quit were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "deceived" him.

The Roman club appeared equally disorganized during matches as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. At any given moment, it has been hard to tell if progress is being made or collapsing.

Matteo's Unforeseen Presence

At least one man remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio this year. He spent the previous campaign on loan at Parma and, early this summer, his parent club were attempting to extend his stay temporarily. The registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. Lazio could not afford to weaken their team with no new signings.

He signed in the first place when Sarri was last in charge, at that time a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances for Lazio in that campaign, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."

Finding His True Position

It's possible the coach was still trying to determine the exact type of the player's talent. Labeled as a wide forward when he joined, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile as center forward. During 63 outings on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn