The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a team that had let in 10 goals while netting just two in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Had their campaign unraveling, or did there exist a thread keeping it intact from the beginning? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri to lead the team in the summer transfer window, before he admitted that the club had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were about to receive for accounting issues. Rumours that he could resign were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic during matches as they were off it, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to determine if they are improving or self-destructing.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Return
At least one man remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this season. He spent last season at Parma as a loanee and, during the summer break, his owning club were advocating for him to stay there a while longer. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He joined in the first place under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances with the club in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
Perhaps the manager was continuing to attempt to determine the exact type of his skill set. Billed as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
