The atmosphere at Lazio's home ground was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had let in a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their ongoing dissent in a long-running conflict with president Claudio Lotito.
A Season Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or had there never been any cohesion keeping it intact in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team in the summer transfer window, only for him to later acknowledge that the club had not mentioned the transfer ban they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Reports that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic during matches as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other initial five matches, including the Rome derby. At any given moment, it's been difficult to ascertain if progress is being made or self-destructing.
The Youngster's Surprising Presence
A single player remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio this year. He spent the last one with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, Lazio were advocating for him to extend his stay for another season. The signing restriction necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster without replacements.
Cancellieri arrived initially when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances for Lazio in that campaign, the vast majority of those as a substitute. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star but then not selecting him."
Discovering His Natural Fit
Perhaps the manager was persistently working to identify the exact type of his skill set. Labeled as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma in the past two years, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
