Cancellieri Shows Flashing Moments of Genius in Positive Aspect for Haywire Lazio

The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had let in 10 goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with chairman Claudio Lotito.

The Campaign Falling Apart?

Was Lazio's season falling apart, or was there ever a thread maintaining its structure from the beginning? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, but then he admitted that the management had not mentioned the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Rumours that his departure was imminent were unfounded, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.

The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic on the pitch as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining opening fixtures, featuring the derby della Capitale. From one game to the next, observers have struggled to tell if they are improving or collapsing.

The Youngster's Surprising Comeback

At least one man kept smiling through it. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to remain with Lazio during this campaign. He was on the previous campaign at Parma as a loanee and, at the start of the off-season, his owning club were advocating for him to remain there for another season. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. Lazio could not afford to weaken their team without replacements.

He signed in the first place when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 matches in the league with the club in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."

Finding His True Position

Maybe Sarri was persistently working to work out the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Originally described as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile as center forward. Across 63 games while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn