The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy on Saturday afternoon. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had allowed ten goals while scoring only two in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their latest protest in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
A Season Unraveling?
Had their campaign falling apart, or was there ever any cohesion maintaining its structure to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri to lead the team in the summer transfer window, only for him to later acknowledge that the club had omitted to inform him about a registration embargo they were set to be hit with for accounting issues. Speculation that his departure was imminent were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Roman club appeared equally disorganized in their performances as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing their other first five games, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, it has been hard to tell if progress is being made or collapsing.
The Youngster's Unforeseen Presence
At least one man kept smiling through it. 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 for another season. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster without replacements.
He signed in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in the 2022-23 season, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Finding His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was still trying to identify the specific characteristics of his skill set. Labeled as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
