The feeling at Lazio's home ground was anything but joyful this past Saturday. The home side was losing against Torino, a team that had allowed ten goals while managing only two goals in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their latest protest in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Was Lazio's season unraveling, or did there exist a thread keeping it intact from the beginning? Lazio reinstated 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 facing for fiscal problems. Speculation that he could resign were not true, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic in their performances as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining initial five matches, which included the capital clash. From one game to the next, observers have struggled to tell if they're getting better or self-destructing.
The Youngster's Unforeseen Presence
A single player continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this year. He spent last season on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his parent club were pushing for him to remain there temporarily. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. They were unable to thin their squad with no new signings.
He joined originally during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances for Lazio in that campaign, almost all of those as a substitute. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Uncovering His Best Role
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to work out the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings during spells with Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
