The feeling at Lazio's home ground was anything but joyful on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, a team that had let in 10 goals while netting just two in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Unraveling?
Had their campaign unraveling, or was there ever a binding element maintaining its structure to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, only for him admitted that the board had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were facing for fiscal problems. Rumours that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic during matches as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other initial five matches, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to tell if they are improving or collapsing.
Matteo's Unexpected Presence
One individual continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this season. He spent the previous campaign with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his owning club were pushing for him to extend his stay for another season. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. They were unable to reduce their roster without replacements.
He joined initially during Sarri's previous tenure, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances for Lazio in that campaign, almost all of those from the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left after that campaign, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star only to bench him consistently."
Discovering His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was still trying to identify the nature of the player's talent. Originally described as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
