The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had allowed ten goals while scoring only two in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their latest protest in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Was Lazio's season unraveling, or was there ever a thread keeping it intact in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, before he to later acknowledge that the club had not mentioned the transfer ban they were about to receive for fiscal problems. Speculation that he might quit were not true, but he stated that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Roman club appeared equally disorganized on the pitch as behind the scenes, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other first five games, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to ascertain if they're getting better or collapsing.
Matteo's Surprising Presence
At least one man remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio during this campaign. He completed the previous campaign on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his owning club were attempting to extend his stay for another season. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster with no new signings.
He joined initially when Sarri was last in charge, at that time a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in 2022-23, the vast majority of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed at the end of that season, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Finding His Natural Fit
Perhaps the manager was continuing to attempt to determine the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Originally described as an attacking winger when he joined, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
