The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had let in a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their previous five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were finishing their ongoing dissent in a continuous dispute with chairman Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or was there ever any cohesion holding it together to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, before he publicly stated that the board had failed to disclose the transfer ban they were facing for financial irregularities. Rumours that he might quit were unfounded, but he stated that Lotito had "deceived" him.
Lazio appeared equally disorganized on the pitch as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining first five games, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to tell if they're getting better or imploding.
Cancellieri's Surprising Return
At least one man continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio this season. He spent last season with Parma on loan and, early this summer, Lazio were attempting to remain there temporarily. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster without replacements.
He signed initially during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances for Lazio in the 2022-23 season, the vast majority of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star only to bench him consistently."
Finding His Best Role
Perhaps the manager was continuing to attempt to work out the specific characteristics of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
