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The feeling at their home stadium was decidedly gloomy on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had let in a total of 10 goals while scoring only two in their most recent five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in a continuous dispute with president Claudio Lotito.

This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?

Was the team's progress falling apart, or had there never been a binding element keeping it intact in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, before he to later acknowledge that the board had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were facing for financial irregularities. Rumours that he could resign were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.

Lazio became as messy in their performances as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to tell if they're getting better or collapsing.

Cancellieri's Unforeseen Return

One individual kept smiling amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to feature for Lazio during this campaign. He was on last season with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, Lazio were advocating 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 when Sarri was last in charge, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in the 2022-23 season, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."

Finding His True Position

It's possible the coach was still trying to determine the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Originally described as a wide forward on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent the majority of that term as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. Across 63 games while playing for Empoli and Parma in the past two years, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn