Matteo Cancellieri Demonstrates Flashing Moments of Brilliance in Positive Aspect for Struggling Lazio
The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a team that had allowed ten goals while scoring only two in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Was Lazio's season unraveling, or did there exist a thread keeping it intact in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, but then he admitted that the management had not mentioned a registration embargo they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Rumours that his departure was imminent were not true, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic on the pitch as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it has been hard to determine if they're getting better or collapsing.
Matteo's Unforeseen Comeback
One individual continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this season. He completed last season at Parma as a loanee and, during the summer break, his parent club were pushing for him to stay there for another season. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. Lazio could not afford to weaken their team lacking backup options.
He joined originally during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 matches in the league with the club in that campaign, all but one of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended after that campaign, would later accuse Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri had superstar potential then never playing him."
Discovering His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to work out the exact type of his skill set. Originally described as a flank player when he joined, Cancellieri instead found himself most of that campaign as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. Across 63 games on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
