Cancellieri Demonstrates Flashing Moments of Genius in Positive Aspect for Struggling Lazio
The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had conceded 10 goals while netting just two in their previous 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 Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or had there never been any cohesion holding it together from the beginning? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as head coach in the summer transfer window, but then he admitted that the management had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were about to receive for fiscal problems. Rumours that he could resign were without basis, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic during matches as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the rest of their initial five matches, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, it has been hard to determine if they are improving or collapsing.
The Youngster's Surprising Comeback
At least one man remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio this season. He was on the previous campaign on loan at Parma and, at the start of the off-season, his parent club were advocating for him to extend his stay for another season. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster with no new signings.
He signed in the first place when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances for Lazio in the 2022-23 season, the vast majority of those from the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who left after that campaign, subsequently claimed Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential then never playing him."
Discovering His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was persistently working to determine the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
