The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a side that had let in 10 goals while netting just two in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in a long-running conflict with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Was Lazio's season falling apart, or was there ever any cohesion keeping it intact in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, only for him to later acknowledge that the club had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for accounting issues. Speculation that he could resign were unfounded, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy in their performances as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other opening fixtures, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, it has been hard to tell if they are improving or collapsing.
The Youngster's Unexpected Comeback
At least one man remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to feature for Lazio during this campaign. He spent last season at Parma as a loanee and, early this summer, his parent club were pushing for him to stay there a while longer. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to weaken their team without replacements.
He signed originally during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances for Lazio in the 2022-23 season, the vast majority of those from the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended after that campaign, would later accuse Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
Perhaps the manager was persistently working to work out the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a flank player on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. Across 63 games while playing for Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
