The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had allowed 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Had their campaign falling apart, or had there never been a binding element holding it together to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, before he to later acknowledge that the club had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were about to receive for fiscal problems. Rumours that he might quit were without basis, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic during matches as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining first five games, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, observers have struggled to tell if progress is being made or collapsing.
Matteo's Unforeseen Return
One individual continued to smile through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio this season. He was on the last one on loan at Parma and, early this summer, his owning club were attempting to remain there for another season. The transfer ban forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster without replacements.
He joined initially under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances for Lazio in that campaign, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed at the end of that season, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Finding His Best Role
Perhaps the manager was still trying to work out the exact type of the player's talent. Labeled as a wide forward on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile at No 9. Across 63 games while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
