Matteo Cancellieri Demonstrates Flashing Moments of Brilliance in Positive Aspect for Unstable Lazio
The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, an opponent that had let in a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their previous five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were concluding their ongoing dissent in a continuous dispute with chairman Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Unraveling?
Was the team's progress unraveling, or had there never been a thread holding it together from the beginning? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, only for him publicly stated that the management had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Speculation that he might quit were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized on the pitch as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other initial five matches, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, it's been difficult to tell if progress is being made or imploding.
Matteo's Unforeseen Comeback
At least one man kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio during this campaign. He completed last season on loan at Parma and, early this summer, his owning club were attempting to extend his stay temporarily. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. They were unable to weaken their team with no new signings.
He signed originally during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances for Lazio in that campaign, almost all of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Discovering His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was still trying to work out the specific characteristics of his skill set. Billed as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma in the past two years, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
