Cancellieri Shows Glimpses of Genius in Bright Spot for Unstable Lazio
The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful this past Saturday. The home side was losing against Torino, a team that had conceded 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in a continuous dispute with chairman Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Unraveling?
Had their campaign falling apart, or had there never been a thread keeping it intact from the beginning? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri to lead the team in the summer transfer window, before he publicly stated that the board had not mentioned a registration embargo they were about to receive for accounting issues. Speculation that he might quit were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic on the pitch as off the field, overcoming 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 they are improving or collapsing.
Matteo's Unforeseen Comeback
At least one man remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio this season. He completed last season with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, his owning club were attempting to stay there temporarily. The registration embargo forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to weaken their team without replacements.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place when Sarri was last in charge, at that time a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 Serie A appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, the vast majority of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
Perhaps the manager was still trying to work out the nature of the player's talent. Originally described as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn