The feeling at Lazio's home ground was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, an opponent that had let in 10 goals while managing only two goals in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their ongoing dissent in a continuous dispute with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Was Lazio's season coming unstitched, or had there never been a thread holding it together to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, only for him to later acknowledge that the club had failed to disclose the transfer ban they were facing for financial irregularities. Speculation that he could resign were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic on the pitch as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, it has been hard to ascertain if they are improving or self-destructing.
Matteo's Unforeseen Presence
At least one man kept smiling through it. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to feature for Lazio this season. He was on the previous campaign at Parma as a loanee and, early this summer, his owning club were attempting to extend his stay temporarily. The signing restriction necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He joined initially when Sarri was last in charge, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in 2022-23, all but one of those as a substitute. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star only to bench him consistently."
Discovering His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to identify the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Originally described as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as an unconvincing alternative 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
