The mood at Lazio's home ground was far from happy during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a team that had conceded ten goals while netting just two in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Unraveling?
Was Lazio's season coming unstitched, or did there exist any cohesion maintaining its structure from the beginning? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, before he admitted that the management had not mentioned a registration embargo they were facing for financial irregularities. Speculation that he could resign were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized during matches as they were off it, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining initial five matches, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, it has been hard to tell if progress is being made or collapsing.
The Youngster's Unforeseen Comeback
One individual kept smiling through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this year. He spent the last one at Parma as a loanee and, at the start of the off-season, his owning club were attempting to remain there a while longer. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He signed initially during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Discovering His Natural Fit
Perhaps the manager was continuing to attempt to determine the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Originally described as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
