The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, an opponent that had allowed ten goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Falling Apart?
Had their campaign coming unstitched, or had there never been a thread maintaining its structure in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, only for him to later acknowledge that the management had failed to disclose the transfer ban they were facing for financial irregularities. Reports that he could resign were unfounded, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
Lazio appeared equally disorganized during matches as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, it has been hard to ascertain if they are improving or collapsing.
The Youngster's Surprising Comeback
At least one man kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio during this campaign. He spent the previous campaign on loan at Parma and, at the start of the off-season, Lazio were attempting to remain there a while longer. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. They were unable to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He joined originally during Sarri's previous tenure, then a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in 2022-23, the vast majority of those from the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Finding His Best Role
It's possible the coach was still trying to work out the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Billed as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
