The mood at their home stadium was anything but joyful on Saturday afternoon. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a team that had let in 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 club owner Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Had their campaign coming unstitched, or was there ever any cohesion maintaining its structure in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team during the off-season, before he admitted that the club had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were set to be hit with for accounting issues. Reports that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic in their performances as they were off it, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the rest of their first five games, which included the capital clash. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to determine if they are improving or imploding.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Return
One individual kept smiling through it. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio this year. He spent the last one with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, Lazio were attempting to stay there for another season. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. They were unable to weaken their team lacking backup options.
He joined originally during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 matches in the league for Lazio in the 2022-23 season, all but one of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His True Position
Perhaps the manager was continuing to attempt to work out the nature of the player's talent. Originally described as an attacking winger when he joined, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile as center forward. During 63 outings on loan at Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
