Cancellieri Displays Glimpses of Brilliance in Positive Aspect for Unstable Lazio
The feeling at Lazio's home ground was anything but joyful on Saturday afternoon. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a side that had conceded 10 goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their latest protest in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Unraveling?
Was Lazio's season coming unstitched, or did there exist a binding element keeping it intact to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, but then he publicly stated that the board had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were about to receive for accounting issues. Reports that he could resign were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Roman club became as messy in their performances as off the field, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the rest of their opening fixtures, featuring the derby della Capitale. From one game to the next, observers have struggled to determine if they're getting better or collapsing.
The Youngster's Unforeseen Return
One individual remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this season. He completed last season with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his parent club were attempting to remain there temporarily. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. Lazio could not afford to weaken their team lacking backup options.
He joined originally when Sarri was last in charge, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in that campaign, the vast majority of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential then never playing him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to identify the exact type of his skill set. Billed as a flank player when he joined, Cancellieri instead found himself most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
