Cancellieri Shows Flashing Moments of Brilliance in Bright Spot for Unstable Lazio
The feeling at Lazio's home ground was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had let in 10 goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were finishing their ongoing dissent in a continuous dispute with club owner Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Was Lazio's season falling apart, or had there never been a binding element keeping it intact from the beginning? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, only for him admitted that the club had not mentioned a registration embargo they were set to be hit with for fiscal problems. Rumours that his departure was imminent were not true, but he stated that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic during matches as behind the scenes, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining first five games, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, observers have struggled to tell if they're getting better or self-destructing.
Matteo's Unexpected Presence
One individual remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio this year. He was on the last one with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, his parent club were advocating for him to remain there for another season. The signing restriction forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster with no new signings.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place under Sarri's first spell, at that time a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances with the club in that campaign, the vast majority of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His True Position
Maybe Sarri was persistently working to determine the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Billed as a wide forward on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
