The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had allowed a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with chairman Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Had their campaign unraveling, or did there exist a thread keeping it intact in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, but then he to later acknowledge that the club had not mentioned a ban on new signings they were facing for financial irregularities. Rumours that he could resign were not true, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy during matches as behind the scenes, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to determine if progress is being made or self-destructing.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Comeback
At least one man remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to be at Lazio during this campaign. He completed the previous campaign with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, his parent club were pushing for him to stay there temporarily. The registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to weaken their team with no new signings.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances for Lazio in that campaign, almost all of those from the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was still trying to work out the specific characteristics of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri yet was deployed for most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. Across 63 games during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
