Cancellieri Demonstrates Flashing Moments of Genius in Bright Spot for Struggling Lazio
The mood at their home stadium was anything but joyful on Saturday afternoon. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a team that had allowed ten goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their ongoing dissent in a continuous dispute with chairman Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or had there never been a binding element keeping it intact from the beginning? 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 set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Reports that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "misled" 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 first five games, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it has been hard to tell if progress is being made or collapsing.
The Youngster's Unforeseen Return
At least one man remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio during this campaign. He completed the last one with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, his owning club were advocating for him to extend his stay a while longer. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. Lazio could not afford to thin their squad without replacements.
He joined initially when Sarri was last in charge, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 matches in the league with the club in that campaign, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His True Position
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to determine the specific characteristics of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile as center forward. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn