Cancellieri Demonstrates Flashing Moments of Exceptional Talent in Positive Aspect for Unstable Lazio
The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a side that had let in 10 goals while netting just two in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their latest protest in a continuous dispute with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Was Lazio's season unraveling, or was there ever any cohesion holding it together in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, before he to later acknowledge that the management 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 acknowledged that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy during matches as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the rest of their initial five matches, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to determine if they're getting better or collapsing.
Matteo's Unforeseen Comeback
At least one man remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to be at Lazio during this campaign. He completed the previous campaign on loan at Parma and, at the start of the off-season, Lazio were pushing for him to stay there for another season. The signing restriction forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived originally under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances with the club in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, would later accuse Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri had superstar potential only to bench him consistently."
Finding His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was persistently working to identify the specific characteristics of his skill set. Billed as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
