The mood at Lazio's home ground was far from happy this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a team that had let in 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Coming Unstitched?
Had their campaign coming unstitched, or did there exist a thread holding it together to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as head coach in the summer transfer window, before he publicly stated that the management had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were about to receive for accounting issues. Rumours that he might quit were unfounded, but he stated that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized during matches as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the rest of their opening fixtures, featuring the derby della Capitale. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to ascertain if they are improving or imploding.
The Youngster's Unforeseen Return
At least one man continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this year. He spent last season on loan at Parma and, early this summer, Lazio were advocating for him to stay there for another season. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster with no new signings.
He joined in the first place when Sarri was last in charge, at that time a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed at the end of that season, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Uncovering His Best Role
It's possible the coach was still trying to determine the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile as center forward. During 63 outings on loan at Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
