Cancellieri Demonstrates Brief Sparks of Genius in Bright Spot for Struggling Lazio

The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a team that had conceded ten goals while netting just two in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with chairman Claudio Lotito.

This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?

Was Lazio's season unraveling, or did there exist a binding element keeping it intact to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, before he to later acknowledge that the management had not mentioned a registration embargo they were set to be hit with for accounting issues. Speculation that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.

The Roman club became as messy during matches as behind the scenes, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other opening fixtures, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to determine if they're getting better or self-destructing.

Matteo's Surprising Return

One individual kept smiling through it. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to be at Lazio during this campaign. He spent the previous campaign on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his parent club were pushing for him to stay there for another season. The registration embargo forced a rethink. They were unable to weaken their team with no new signings.

He joined in the first place under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 Serie A appearances with the club in that campaign, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."

Discovering His Natural Fit

It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to determine the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Originally described as an attacking winger when he joined, Cancellieri yet was deployed for the majority of that term as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn