The feeling at their home stadium was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had let in a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in a continuous dispute with president Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Falling Apart?
Was Lazio's season falling apart, or did there exist a thread keeping it intact in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, before he to later acknowledge that the management had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Rumours that he could resign were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic on the pitch as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, it has been hard to ascertain if they're getting better or self-destructing.
Cancellieri's Surprising Return
One individual continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio during this campaign. He spent the last one with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, his parent club were pushing for him to stay there temporarily. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. Lazio could not afford to weaken their team without replacements.
He signed in the first place under Sarri's first spell, at that time a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in the 2022-23 season, almost all of those as a substitute. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed at the end of that season, subsequently claimed Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His True Position
Maybe Sarri was still trying to work out the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
