Cancellieri Displays Glimpses of Genius in Bright Spot for Unstable Lazio
The atmosphere at their home stadium was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had conceded a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their previous five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in a continuous dispute with chairman Claudio Lotito.
A Season Unraveling?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or did there exist a binding element keeping it intact in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri to lead the team in the summer transfer window, only for him admitted that the board had omitted to inform him about a registration embargo they were about to receive for fiscal problems. Rumours that his departure was imminent were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized in their performances as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other initial five matches, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to determine if they are improving or collapsing.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Comeback
One individual remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to feature for Lazio this season. He completed the previous campaign on loan at Parma and, at the start of the off-season, his parent club were attempting to stay there for another season. The registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad without replacements.
He joined initially during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 Serie A appearances for Lazio in that campaign, almost all of those as a substitute. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri had superstar potential then never playing him."
Discovering His Natural Fit
Maybe Sarri was still trying to determine the nature of his skill set. Billed as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent the majority of that term as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. Across 63 games while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
