The feeling at their home stadium was far from happy this past Saturday. The home side was losing against Torino, a team that had allowed 10 goals while scoring only two in their previous five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their latest protest in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Had their campaign unraveling, or had there never been a thread keeping it intact to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, before he publicly stated that the club had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Reports that he could resign were not true, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic in their performances as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the rest of their opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it has been hard to determine if they are improving or self-destructing.
The Youngster's Surprising Comeback
At least one man remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this year. He spent the last one with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, his parent club were pushing for him to remain there for another season. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. They were unable to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived originally when Sarri was last in charge, at that time a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances for Lazio in the 2022-23 season, the vast majority of those from the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Uncovering His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was persistently working to determine the specific characteristics of Cancellieri's abilities. Originally described as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
