The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy on Saturday afternoon. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had allowed ten goals while scoring only two in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with president Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Had their campaign falling apart, or was there ever a thread keeping it intact to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, but then he publicly stated that the board had not mentioned a ban on new signings they were about to receive for accounting issues. Rumours that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio became as messy during matches as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other 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 Unexpected Return
At least one man kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to be at Lazio this year. He spent last season with Parma on loan and, early this summer, Lazio were attempting to stay there temporarily. The signing restriction forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to reduce their roster without replacements.
He joined in the first place under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in the 2022-23 season, all but one of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star but then not selecting him."
Discovering His True Position
It's possible the coach was persistently working to determine the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a flank player 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 on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
