The feeling at their home stadium was far from happy on Saturday afternoon. Lazio were trailing against Torino, an opponent that had let in 10 goals while managing only two goals in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in a continuous dispute with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Had their campaign falling apart, or did there exist a thread holding it together 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 the transfer ban they were facing for accounting issues. Rumours that he could resign were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "misled" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic during matches as they were off it, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining initial five matches, which included the capital clash. From one game to the next, it has been hard to ascertain if they are improving or imploding.
Cancellieri's Surprising Comeback
A single player kept smiling through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this season. He spent the previous campaign on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, Lazio were pushing for him to stay there for another season. The transfer ban forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He signed initially under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in the 2022-23 season, almost all of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, would later accuse Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Finding His Natural Fit
Perhaps the manager was still trying to work out the specific characteristics of Cancellieri's abilities. Originally described as a wide forward on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. During 63 outings on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
