Cancellieri Demonstrates Brief Sparks of Genius in Positive Aspect for Haywire Lazio
The atmosphere at their home stadium was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had allowed 10 goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress unraveling, or did there exist a binding element holding it together to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as head coach in the summer transfer window, only for him to later acknowledge that the club had omitted to inform him about a registration embargo they were about to receive for fiscal problems. Speculation that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio appeared equally disorganized on the pitch as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the rest of their opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. At any given moment, observers have struggled to tell if they are improving or self-destructing.
The Youngster's Unexpected Presence
At least one man remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio this season. He was on the previous campaign with Parma on loan and, early this summer, Lazio were attempting to stay there for another season. The transfer ban forced a rethink. They were unable to thin their squad with no new signings.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Discovering His Best Role
It's possible the coach was persistently working to identify the specific characteristics of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as a flank player when he joined, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. Across 63 games while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
