The feeling at their home stadium was decidedly gloomy on Saturday afternoon. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a team that had conceded a total of 10 goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Had their campaign falling apart, or was there ever a binding element maintaining its structure to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri to lead the team during the off-season, only for him admitted that the club had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were about to receive for accounting issues. Speculation that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio became as messy in their performances as they were off it, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing their other opening fixtures, featuring the derby della Capitale. At any given moment, it has been hard to ascertain if they're getting better or imploding.
Matteo's Unexpected Presence
One individual continued to smile amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this season. He spent last season with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, Lazio were attempting to extend his stay a while longer. The transfer ban forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He signed originally during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in 2022-23, all but one of those as a substitute. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, would later accuse Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Discovering His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was still trying to work out the exact type of the player's talent. Billed as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. Across 63 games while playing for Empoli and Parma in the past two years, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
