The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had conceded a total of 10 goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in a continuous dispute with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Unraveling?
Had their campaign falling apart, or had there never been a thread keeping it intact to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, before he to later acknowledge that the club had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were about to receive for accounting issues. Speculation that he might quit were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy on the pitch as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it has been hard to ascertain if they are improving or self-destructing.
Matteo's Surprising Presence
At least one man remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio this season. He completed last season with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, Lazio were pushing for him to remain there a while longer. The signing restriction necessitated a reconsideration. They were unable to thin their squad lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived initially during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances with the club in 2022-23, the vast majority of those from the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed after that campaign, would later accuse Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential only to bench him consistently."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
Perhaps the manager was still trying to identify the specific characteristics of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a flank player when he joined, Cancellieri instead found himself most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
