The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had conceded ten goals while managing only two goals in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or did there exist a thread holding it together in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, but then he admitted that the board had omitted to inform him about a registration embargo they were set to be hit with for accounting issues. Reports that he could resign were not true, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
Lazio appeared equally disorganized during matches as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing their other initial five matches, featuring the derby della Capitale. At any given moment, it has been hard to tell if they're getting better or collapsing.
Matteo's Unexpected Return
A single player remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio this season. He spent the last one at Parma as a loanee and, at the start of the off-season, his parent club were attempting to stay there for another season. The signing restriction forced a rethink. They were unable to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He signed in the first place when Sarri was last in charge, at that time a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances in Lazio colors in the 2022-23 season, all but one of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, later stated Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to work out the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Originally described as a flank player when he joined, Cancellieri instead found himself most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings during spells with Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
