The feeling at their home stadium was anything but joyful on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had conceded ten goals while netting just two in their previous five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or did there exist a thread keeping it intact to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, only for him admitted that the management had omitted to inform him about a registration embargo they were about to receive for fiscal problems. Reports that he could resign were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy during matches as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, it has been hard to tell if they're getting better or collapsing.
The Youngster's Surprising Comeback
At least one man continued to smile through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this year. He completed last season with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, Lazio were attempting to remain there a while longer. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. They were unable to reduce their roster without replacements.
He joined in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 matches in the league for Lazio in the 2022-23 season, almost all of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His Best Role
It's possible the coach was still trying to identify the specific characteristics of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a flank player on arrival, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
