The feeling at their home stadium was far from happy on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had let in ten goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in a continuous dispute with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or did there exist a thread holding it together in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri to lead the team in the summer transfer window, only for him publicly stated that the management had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Rumours that he could resign were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "deceived" him.
Lazio appeared equally disorganized in their performances as off the field, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the rest of their initial five matches, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, it has been hard to ascertain if progress is being made or collapsing.
The Youngster's Unforeseen Return
At least one man remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio this year. He was on the last one on loan at Parma and, early this summer, Lazio were advocating for him to extend his stay a while longer. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster with no new signings.
He joined initially under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances for Lazio in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who left after that campaign, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Finding His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was still trying to identify the nature of his skill set. Originally described as a wide forward when he joined, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile as center forward. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
