Cancellieri Shows Brief Sparks of Brilliance in Bright Spot for Unstable Lazio
The feeling at Lazio's home ground was decidedly gloomy this past Saturday. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had allowed ten goals while netting just two in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with chairman Claudio Lotito.
A Season Unraveling?
Was Lazio's season falling apart, or was there ever a thread holding it together from the beginning? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, before he to later acknowledge that the board had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Speculation that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic during matches as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining first five games, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, it has been hard to determine if they're getting better or imploding.
Matteo's Unforeseen Presence
A single player continued to smile through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this year. He was on the last one at Parma as a loanee and, during the summer break, his parent club were pushing for him to remain there for another season. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster without replacements.
Cancellieri arrived initially under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances in Lazio colors in 2022-23, almost all of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Finding His Natural Fit
Maybe Sarri was persistently working to work out the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
