The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful this past Saturday. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had let in a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in a continuous dispute with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress unraveling, or did there exist a thread keeping it intact to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, before he to later acknowledge that the management had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for accounting issues. Speculation that he might quit were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
Lazio became as messy on the pitch as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the rest of their initial five matches, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to ascertain if they're getting better or imploding.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Presence
At least one man remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio this year. He spent the last one with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his parent club were attempting to extend his stay temporarily. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. They were unable to thin their squad lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived initially under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances with the club in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri had superstar potential only to bench him consistently."
Uncovering His Best Role
Perhaps the manager was still trying to determine the exact type of the player's talent. Billed as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
