The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had allowed ten goals while managing only two goals in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Had their campaign falling apart, or was there ever a thread holding it together in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as head coach this summer, but then he admitted that the board had not mentioned a registration embargo they were facing for financial irregularities. Speculation that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
Lazio appeared equally disorganized in their performances as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. At any given moment, it's been difficult to tell if they are improving or self-destructing.
The Youngster's Unforeseen Return
One individual continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this season. He spent last season with Parma on loan and, early this summer, Lazio were pushing for him to stay there for another season. The registration embargo forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 Serie A appearances in Lazio colors in the 2022-23 season, almost all of those from the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Finding His True Position
Maybe Sarri was still trying to determine the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as an attacking winger when he joined, Cancellieri yet was deployed for the majority of that term as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. During 63 outings on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
