The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had allowed a total of 10 goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Was Lazio's season coming unstitched, or did there exist a thread maintaining its structure to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, but then he to later acknowledge that the board had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were facing for accounting issues. Speculation that he might quit were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy in their performances as behind the scenes, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other first five games, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it has been hard to determine if they are improving or self-destructing.
The Youngster's Surprising Presence
At least one man kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to remain with Lazio during this campaign. He completed the last one on loan at Parma and, at the start of the off-season, his parent club were pushing for him to stay there a while longer. The signing restriction necessitated a reconsideration. They were unable to thin their squad with no new signings.
He signed originally under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances with the club in the 2022-23 season, all but one of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who left after that campaign, would later accuse Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential only to bench him consistently."
Finding His Best Role
It's possible the coach was persistently working to identify the nature of the player's talent. Billed as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
