The feeling at Lazio's home ground was decidedly gloomy this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, an opponent that had conceded ten goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in a continuous dispute with chairman Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Falling Apart?
Had their campaign coming unstitched, or had there never been any cohesion keeping it intact in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, before he publicly stated that the club had not mentioned a registration embargo they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Rumours that his departure was imminent were not true, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic during matches as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining first five games, featuring the derby della Capitale. At any given moment, observers have struggled to tell if they're getting better or imploding.
The Youngster's Unexpected Return
One individual continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio during this campaign. He completed the last one with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, his parent club were pushing for him to remain there temporarily. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to weaken their team with no new signings.
He joined in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in that campaign, almost all of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Discovering His Best Role
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to determine the exact type of the player's talent. Billed as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent the majority of that term as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
