The mood at their home stadium was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a side that had allowed 10 goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or was there ever a thread keeping it intact in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as head coach this summer, only for him publicly stated that the club had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Reports that he might quit were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy during matches as they were off it, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other first five games, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to tell if progress is being made or self-destructing.
At least one man kept smiling amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio this year. He was on the last one at Parma as a loanee and, early this summer, Lazio were advocating for him to remain there temporarily. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. Lazio could not afford to thin their squad with no new signings.
He joined initially during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances in Lazio colors in the 2022-23 season, all but one of those as a substitute. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom only to bench him consistently."
Perhaps the manager was continuing to attempt to identify the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Originally described as an attacking winger when he joined, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile at No 9. Across 63 games on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
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Rebecca Mullins
Rebecca Mullins
Rebecca Mullins
Rebecca Mullins
Rebecca Mullins