Cancellieri Shows Flashing Moments of Exceptional Talent in Silver Lining for Unstable Lazio

The feeling at Lazio's home ground was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a team that had let in a total of 10 goals while scoring only two in their previous five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their ongoing dissent in a continuous dispute with president Claudio Lotito.

This Year's Efforts Unraveling?

Had their campaign unraveling, or had there never been any cohesion keeping it intact in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, only for him to later acknowledge that the board had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Reports that he might quit were unfounded, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.

Lazio appeared equally disorganized during matches as they were off it, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining initial five matches, featuring the derby della Capitale. From one game to the next, it has been hard to ascertain if they are improving or imploding.

Matteo's Unexpected Presence

One individual continued to smile amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio this year. He was on 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 registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to weaken their team with no new signings.

He signed originally during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, all but one of those as a substitute. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, would later accuse Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential only to bench him consistently."

Discovering His True Position

It's possible the coach was persistently working to determine the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Originally described as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile as center forward. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn