The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had conceded 10 goals while scoring only two in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Had their campaign falling apart, or had there never been a binding element holding it together from the beginning? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, only for him to later acknowledge that the club had not mentioned a registration embargo they were about to receive for accounting issues. Speculation that he could resign were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized in their performances as behind the scenes, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining initial five matches, including the Rome derby. At any given moment, it's been difficult to determine if they are improving or self-destructing.
Matteo's Surprising Return
A single player remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio this season. He was on the previous campaign with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, his owning club were advocating for him to stay there temporarily. The registration embargo forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to reduce their roster without replacements.
He signed initially when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances in Lazio colors in the 2022-23 season, almost all of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended after that campaign, subsequently claimed Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Finding His True Position
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to identify the exact type of the player's talent. Labeled as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri yet was deployed for most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. During 63 outings during spells with Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
