Cancellieri Demonstrates Brief Sparks of Brilliance in Bright Spot for Unstable Lazio
The mood at Lazio's home ground was decidedly gloomy on Saturday afternoon. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had allowed ten goals while scoring only two in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Had their campaign falling apart, or did there exist a binding element maintaining its structure from the beginning? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team in the summer transfer window, before he publicly stated that the management had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were set to be hit with for fiscal problems. Speculation that he might quit were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Roman club became as messy during matches as they were off it, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the rest of their opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to ascertain if they are improving or collapsing.
The Youngster's Unforeseen Comeback
At least one man continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio this season. He completed last season on loan at Parma and, at the start of the off-season, his parent club were pushing for him to extend his stay for another season. The transfer ban forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to reduce their roster with no new signings.
Cancellieri arrived initially during Sarri's previous tenure, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 Serie A appearances with the club 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 would be a star then never playing him."
Finding His Natural Fit
Maybe Sarri was persistently working to determine the specific characteristics of his skill set. Billed as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma in the past two years, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
