The mood at Lazio's home ground was decidedly gloomy on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, a team that had let in ten goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in a long-running conflict with president Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Had their campaign coming unstitched, or was there ever a thread keeping it intact to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as head coach in the summer transfer window, but then he to later acknowledge that the board had not mentioned a registration embargo they were facing for financial irregularities. Reports that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy in their performances as they were off it, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. At any given moment, observers have struggled to determine if progress is being made or collapsing.
Matteo's Surprising Return
At least one man remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this season. He completed last season on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, Lazio were advocating for him to extend his stay for another season. The signing restriction forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived originally under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in that campaign, the vast majority of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Finding His True Position
Maybe Sarri was persistently working to work out the nature of the player's talent. Billed as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
