The feeling at their home stadium was far from happy during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, an opponent that had allowed 10 goals while netting just two in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
A Season Unraveling?
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or did there exist any cohesion holding it together from the beginning? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, before he admitted that the board had not mentioned the transfer ban they were about to receive for fiscal problems. Reports that his departure was imminent were unfounded, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized on the pitch as behind the scenes, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other first five games, featuring the derby della Capitale. At any given moment, it's been difficult to tell if they're getting better or collapsing.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Presence
One individual continued to smile amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio this year. He was on the last one with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, Lazio were pushing for him to remain there temporarily. The registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. Lazio could not afford to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He signed in the first place under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 matches in the league for Lazio in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, would later accuse Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Uncovering His Best Role
It's possible the coach was still trying to identify the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a wide forward on arrival, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
