The feeling at Lazio's home ground was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a team that had allowed a total of 10 goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Unraveling?
Had their campaign falling apart, or had there never been a binding element maintaining its structure to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri to lead the team during the off-season, before he publicly stated that the club had omitted to inform him about a registration embargo they were facing for financial irregularities. Rumours that he could resign were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic on the pitch as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other first five games, including the Rome derby. At any given moment, it has been hard to ascertain if they are improving or collapsing.
The Youngster's Unforeseen Presence
At least one man kept smiling amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to feature for Lazio during this campaign. He completed the last one with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, his parent club were pushing for him to stay there temporarily. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. Lazio could not afford to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He joined originally during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He made 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed after that campaign, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Finding His Best Role
Perhaps the manager was still trying to determine the exact type of the player's talent. Originally described as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
