The feeling at their home stadium was far from happy on Saturday afternoon. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had let in a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Unraveling?
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or did there exist a thread keeping it intact to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team during the off-season, before he publicly stated that the management had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Reports that he could resign were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy in their performances as behind the scenes, 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 tell if they're getting better or collapsing.
The Youngster's Unexpected Comeback
A single player continued to smile amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio this season. He completed the previous campaign with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his owning club were advocating for him to remain there for another season. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. Lazio could not afford to thin their squad with no new signings.
He signed in the first place under Sarri's first spell, at that time a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in that campaign, all but one of those as a substitute. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended after that campaign, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His Best Role
Perhaps the manager was continuing to attempt to determine the nature of the player's talent. Labeled as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
