Matteo Cancellieri Demonstrates Glimpses of Brilliance in Bright Spot for Unstable Lazio
The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a team that had let in a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their latest protest in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
A Season Coming Unstitched?
Had their campaign coming unstitched, 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 publicly stated that the board had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were facing for fiscal problems. Rumours that he might quit were unfounded, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy during matches as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other first five games, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to ascertain if they are improving or collapsing.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Presence
At least one man kept smiling through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio during this campaign. He spent the last one with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his parent club were pushing for him to remain there for another season. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He signed originally under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 matches in the league with the club in that campaign, almost all of those as a substitute. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His Best Role
Perhaps the manager was still trying to identify the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as a wide forward on arrival, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. Across 63 games on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
