The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had allowed ten goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in a continuous dispute with club owner Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or was there ever any cohesion keeping it intact to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team during the off-season, but then he admitted that the management had failed to disclose the transfer ban they were facing for accounting issues. Speculation that he could resign were unfounded, but he stated that Lotito had "deceived" him.
Lazio appeared equally disorganized during matches as they were off it, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the rest of their first five games, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to tell if progress is being made or imploding.
Cancellieri's Surprising Return
At least one man remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio this year. He spent the previous campaign at Parma as a loanee and, early this summer, his owning club were attempting to remain there a while longer. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. Lazio could not afford to reduce their roster without replacements.
He joined in the first place under Sarri's first spell, at that time a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances in Lazio colors in 2022-23, almost all of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Discovering His Natural Fit
Maybe Sarri was persistently working to identify the specific characteristics of his skill set. Labeled as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
