The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a team that had conceded a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or had there never been any cohesion holding it together in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as head coach this summer, only for him publicly stated that the management had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were about to receive for accounting issues. Rumours that he could resign were not true, but he stated that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic on the pitch as they were off it, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing their other initial five matches, including the Rome derby. At any given moment, it's been difficult to tell if progress is being made or imploding.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Return
At least one man kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio during this campaign. He was on last season with Parma on loan and, early this summer, Lazio were attempting to remain there for another season. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. They were unable to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He signed initially under Sarri's first spell, at that time a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in the 2022-23 season, the vast majority of those from the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Finding His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to determine the nature of the player's talent. Labeled as a wide forward on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
