The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy this past Saturday. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had conceded a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their ongoing dissent in a continuous dispute with chairman Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or had there never been a thread holding it together from the beginning? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, but then he to later acknowledge that the club had not mentioned the transfer ban they were facing for accounting issues. Reports that he could resign were not true, but he stated that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized on the pitch as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing their other opening fixtures, featuring the derby della Capitale. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to determine if progress is being made 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 was on last season with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his owning club were advocating for him to remain there temporarily. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. They were unable to thin their squad with no new signings.
He signed originally when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri would be a star but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His True Position
Perhaps the manager was persistently working to determine the exact type of his skill set. Labeled as a wide forward when he joined, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
