The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy this past Saturday. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had let in a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their previous five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with president Claudio Lotito.
A Season Unraveling?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or was there ever a binding element keeping it intact to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, only for him publicly stated that the club had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were about to receive for accounting issues. Speculation that his departure was imminent were not true, but he stated that Lotito had "misled" him.
Lazio 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 opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to tell if progress is being made or collapsing.
The Youngster's Surprising Presence
One individual kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio during this campaign. He spent the last one at Parma as a loanee and, during the summer break, Lazio were advocating 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 lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived originally when Sarri was last in charge, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances with the club in that campaign, all but one of those as a substitute. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom only to bench him consistently."
Discovering His Natural Fit
Maybe Sarri was still trying to determine the nature of his skill set. Labeled as a wide forward on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as an ineffective backup 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
