The feeling at their home stadium was decidedly gloomy on Saturday afternoon. Lazio were trailing against Torino, an opponent that had let in a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their latest protest in a continuous dispute with president Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Was Lazio's season falling apart, or had there never been a thread maintaining its structure in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, but then he admitted that the board had not mentioned the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for accounting issues. Reports that his departure was imminent were not true, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "deceived" him.
Lazio appeared equally disorganized during matches as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining first five games, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, it has been hard to tell if progress is being made or collapsing.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Comeback
At least one man remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this season. He was on the last one with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, Lazio were attempting to remain there temporarily. The registration embargo forced a rethink. 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 product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in 2022-23, almost all of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, would later accuse Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri would be a star but then not selecting him."
Finding His Best Role
Perhaps the manager was still trying to work out the exact type 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 at No 9. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
