Cancellieri Demonstrates Glimpses of Genius in Bright Spot for Struggling Lazio
The atmosphere at Lazio's home ground was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had let in a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Falling Apart?
Was Lazio's season coming unstitched, or had there never been a thread maintaining its structure in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, but then he admitted that the club had omitted to inform him about a ban on new signings they were facing for accounting issues. Reports that he might quit were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic in their performances as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it has been hard to ascertain if they are improving or imploding.
Matteo's Unexpected Comeback
A single player continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio this year. He spent the previous campaign with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, his parent club were advocating for him to extend his stay for another season. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. They were unable to reduce their roster with no new signings.
Cancellieri arrived initially when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, almost all of those from the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, subsequently claimed Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential only to bench him consistently."
Discovering His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was still trying to identify the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Originally described as an attacking winger when he joined, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as an unconvincing alternative 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