The atmosphere at their home stadium was far from happy on Saturday afternoon. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had conceded ten goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their ongoing dissent in a long-running conflict with chairman Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Had their campaign unraveling, or was there ever a thread holding it together from the beginning? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team in the summer transfer window, only for him publicly stated that the board had omitted to inform him about a registration embargo they were facing for fiscal problems. Rumours that he might quit were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized in their performances as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining first five games, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to determine if they're getting better or self-destructing.
The Youngster's Unforeseen Presence
One individual continued to smile through it. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio this year. He was on the last one with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, Lazio were pushing for him to remain there a while longer. The transfer ban forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster with no new signings.
He joined initially during Sarri's previous tenure, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances for Lazio in that campaign, almost all of those from the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed after that campaign, would later accuse Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Finding His True Position
It's possible the coach was persistently working to work out the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Labeled as a flank player when he joined, Cancellieri nevertheless spent the majority of that term as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
