The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy on Saturday afternoon. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a team that had conceded a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their latest protest in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or had there never been a binding element maintaining its structure in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, but then he admitted that the management had failed to disclose the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for fiscal problems. Speculation that he could resign were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy on the pitch as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining first five games, including the Rome derby. At any given moment, it has been hard to tell if progress is being made or self-destructing.
Matteo's Unforeseen Comeback
A single player remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to be at Lazio this year. He completed the last one on loan at Parma and, early this summer, Lazio were pushing for him to extend his stay for another season. The transfer ban forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He joined originally under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances with the club in 2022-23, all but one of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Finding 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 when he joined, Cancellieri nevertheless spent the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. During 63 outings on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
