Cancellieri Demonstrates Brief Sparks of Exceptional Talent in Silver Lining for Unstable Lazio
The atmosphere at their home stadium was far from happy on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, a team that had conceded 10 goals while netting just two in their previous five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in a continuous dispute with club owner Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Was Lazio's season coming unstitched, or was there ever a thread holding it together to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, only for him admitted that the club had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were facing for financial irregularities. Reports that he might quit were not true, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic on the pitch as behind the scenes, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other first five games, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to tell if progress is being made or imploding.
The Youngster's Surprising Return
At least one man kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to feature for Lazio this year. He spent the last one with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, his parent club were advocating for him to extend his stay for another season. The registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. They were unable to weaken their team with no new signings.
Cancellieri arrived originally during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances for Lazio in that campaign, almost all of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Discovering His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was still trying to determine the exact type of the player's talent. Originally described as an attacking winger when he joined, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
