Matteo Cancellieri Demonstrates Flashing Moments of Genius in Silver Lining for Struggling Lazio
The mood at their home stadium was far from happy during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had let in 10 goals while scoring only two in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in a continuous dispute with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Unraveling?
Was Lazio's season falling apart, or was there ever a binding element maintaining its structure in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, but then he admitted that the management had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were about to receive for accounting issues. Speculation that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized on the pitch as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining first five games, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to determine if they are improving or self-destructing.
Matteo's Surprising Presence
One individual remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to remain with Lazio during this campaign. He was on last season with Parma on loan and, early this summer, Lazio were advocating for him to stay there temporarily. The transfer ban necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster with no new signings.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 matches in the league with the club in that campaign, the vast majority of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed after that campaign, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star only to bench him consistently."
Finding His Natural Fit
Perhaps the manager was still trying to identify the exact type of his skill set. Labeled as a wide forward when he joined, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
