Cancellieri Demonstrates Glimpses of Genius in Positive Aspect for Unstable Lazio
The atmosphere at Lazio's home ground was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, an opponent that had allowed 10 goals while scoring only two in their previous five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Unraveling?
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or was there ever a thread holding it together in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, before he publicly stated that the management had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Rumours that his departure was imminent were not true, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Roman club appeared equally disorganized in their performances as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other first five games, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to determine if they are improving or imploding.
The Youngster's Unexpected Comeback
One individual remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to remain with Lazio this year. He was on the previous campaign at Parma as a loanee and, at the start of the off-season, his owning club were advocating for him to remain there for another season. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. Lazio could not afford to thin their squad with no new signings.
He joined in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 matches in the league with the club in that campaign, almost all of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed at the end of that season, would later accuse Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Finding His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to work out the exact type of the player's talent. Labeled as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself most of that campaign as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
