Matteo Cancellieri Demonstrates Flashing Moments of Genius in Bright Spot for Haywire Lazio
The atmosphere at their home stadium was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a team that had conceded 10 goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Unraveling?
Had their campaign unraveling, or had there never been a thread maintaining its structure from the beginning? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, but then he admitted that the club had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Reports that he could resign were not true, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Roman club appeared equally disorganized in their performances as off the field, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing their other initial five matches, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, observers have struggled to determine if they are improving or collapsing.
The Youngster's Surprising Return
One individual remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio this year. He completed the previous campaign with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his owning club were attempting to remain there temporarily. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. They were unable to reduce their roster without replacements.
He signed in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential then never playing him."
Discovering His True Position
Maybe Sarri was persistently working to work out the nature of his skill set. Billed as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. Across 63 games while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
