Cancellieri Demonstrates Flashing Moments of Brilliance in Silver Lining for Unstable Lazio

The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a side that had conceded a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their latest protest in a continuous dispute with chairman Claudio Lotito.

The Campaign Coming Unstitched?

Had their campaign unraveling, or had there never been any cohesion keeping it intact in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as head coach this summer, only for him admitted that the board had not mentioned a registration embargo they were facing for accounting issues. Reports that he could resign were not true, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.

Lazio became as messy during matches as off the field, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the rest of their opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. At any given moment, it has been hard to determine if progress is being made or collapsing.

Cancellieri's Unforeseen Presence

A single player kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to remain with Lazio this year. He was on the last one with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, Lazio were advocating for him to remain there a while longer. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. They were unable to reduce their roster with no new signings.

Cancellieri arrived initially when Sarri was last in charge, at that time a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances with the club in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."

Discovering His Best Role

Perhaps the manager was continuing to attempt to work out the nature of the player's talent. Billed as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he scored seven times. Shoehorn