Cancellieri Displays Flashing Moments of Brilliance 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 10 goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their latest protest in a continuous dispute with chairman Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Was Lazio's season unraveling, or had there never been a binding element keeping it intact to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, only for him to later acknowledge that the board had omitted to inform him about a ban on new signings they were facing for fiscal problems. Speculation that he might quit were not true, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized during matches as they were off it, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining first five games, which included the capital clash. From one game to the next, observers have struggled to ascertain if they are improving or collapsing.
The Youngster's Unforeseen Return
A single player kept smiling amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio during this campaign. He was on the last one on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his owning club were pushing for him to extend his stay temporarily. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. They were unable to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He joined in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His True Position
Perhaps the manager was still trying to identify the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Labeled as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
