The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had conceded 10 goals while netting just two in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or did there exist a thread keeping it intact to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, only for him to later acknowledge that the club had not mentioned a registration embargo they were set to be hit with for fiscal problems. Reports that he could resign were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized during matches as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing their other opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, observers have struggled to ascertain if progress is being made or collapsing.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Comeback
One individual continued to smile amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to feature for Lazio this season. He completed last season at Parma as a loanee and, early this summer, his parent club were pushing for him to extend his stay for another season. The registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. They were unable to weaken their team with no new signings.
He joined originally under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances for Lazio in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Finding His Natural Fit
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to work out the exact type of the player's talent. Originally described as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
