The atmosphere at Lazio's home ground was anything but joyful on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had conceded ten goals while managing only two goals in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Unraveling?
Had their campaign falling apart, or had there never been a thread holding it together to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, but then he to later acknowledge that the board had not mentioned a ban on new signings they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Reports that his departure was imminent were not true, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic in their performances as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, it has been hard to determine if they're getting better or collapsing.
The Youngster's Unforeseen Return
A single player remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this year. He completed the last one with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his owning club were advocating for him to stay there for another season. The transfer ban necessitated a reconsideration. Lazio could not afford to thin their squad lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived originally during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, the vast majority of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential then never playing him."
Finding His Best Role
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to identify the nature of the player's talent. Billed as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri instead found himself most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. Across 63 games during spells with Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
