The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a team that had conceded 10 goals while netting just two in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Unraveling?
Was the team's progress unraveling, or was there ever a binding element maintaining its structure to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, before he admitted that the management had omitted to inform him about a ban on new signings they were facing for accounting issues. Reports that he might quit were unfounded, but he stated that Lotito had "deceived" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic in their performances as they were off it, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, observers have struggled to determine if they're getting better or imploding.
The Youngster's Unexpected Comeback
One individual continued to smile amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to feature for Lazio this season. He completed the last one 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 thin their squad with no new signings.
He signed originally during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Discovering His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was persistently working to work out the specific characteristics of his skill set. Labeled as a flank player when he joined, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
