The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy on Saturday afternoon. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had let in a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their last five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in a continuous dispute with chairman Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Was Lazio's season coming unstitched, or was there ever a binding element keeping it intact in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, before he publicly stated that the management had omitted to inform him about a ban on new signings they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Reports that he might quit were not true, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Roman club appeared equally disorganized during matches as behind the scenes, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to ascertain if they're getting better or self-destructing.
The Youngster's Unforeseen Comeback
A single player remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio during this campaign. He spent last season with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his parent club were advocating for him to remain there temporarily. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. They were unable to thin their squad without replacements.
He signed originally during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances for Lazio in that campaign, almost all of those from the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His True Position
Perhaps the manager was continuing to attempt to identify the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
