The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a team that had allowed ten goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in a long-running conflict with president Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Was Lazio's season coming unstitched, or did there exist a thread keeping it intact in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, only for him to later acknowledge that the club had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Speculation that his departure was imminent were unfounded, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic on the pitch 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 imploding.
Matteo's Unforeseen Presence
One individual remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to be at Lazio this year. He spent last season on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his parent club were pushing for him to stay there temporarily. The transfer ban forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to reduce their roster with no new signings.
He signed originally when Sarri was last in charge, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances for Lazio in 2022-23, almost all of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed after that campaign, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom only to bench him consistently."
Uncovering His True Position
It's possible the coach was still trying to identify the exact type of his skill set. Originally described as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
