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 a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in a continuous dispute with chairman Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Unraveling?
Was the team's progress unraveling, or was there ever a binding element maintaining its structure from the beginning? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri to lead the team during the off-season, but then he publicly stated that the board had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Rumours that he could resign were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Roman club became as messy in their performances as behind the scenes, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the rest of their initial five matches, featuring the derby della Capitale. From one game to the next, it has been hard to determine if they're getting better or self-destructing.
Cancellieri's Surprising Return
A single player remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio this season. He completed the last one with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, his owning club were pushing for him to stay there for another season. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad with no new signings.
He signed initially under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 Serie A appearances with the club in 2022-23, almost all of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed at the end of that season, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential then never playing him."
Uncovering His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was still trying to determine the specific characteristics of Cancellieri's abilities. Originally described as a flank player on arrival, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma in the past two years, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
