The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, a team that had let in a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their ongoing dissent in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or had there never been a thread keeping it intact in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, only for him publicly stated that the management had not mentioned a ban on new signings they were facing for financial irregularities. Speculation that he could resign were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy in their performances as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other initial five matches, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it has been hard to determine if progress is being made or collapsing.
The Youngster's Surprising Comeback
At least one man kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio during this campaign. He was on last season on loan at Parma and, early this summer, his parent club were pushing for him to remain there temporarily. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. They were unable to reduce their roster without replacements.
He joined originally when Sarri was last in charge, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances for Lazio in 2022-23, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Finding His True Position
Perhaps the manager was still trying to work out the exact type of the player's talent. Billed as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile as center forward. Across 63 games during spells with Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
