Matteo Cancellieri Displays Flashing Moments of Exceptional Talent in Positive Aspect for Struggling Lazio
The mood at Lazio's home ground was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had conceded a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their latest protest in a continuous dispute with club owner Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Falling Apart?
Had their campaign falling apart, or was there ever a thread maintaining its structure in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as head coach in the summer transfer window, only for him to later acknowledge that the club had failed to disclose the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for accounting issues. Rumours that he might quit were not true, but he stated that Lotito had "misled" him.
Lazio became as messy on the pitch as they were off it, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining first five games, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, it has been hard to tell if progress is being made or imploding.
The Youngster's Surprising Presence
At least one man kept smiling through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this year. He completed last season with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, Lazio were pushing for him to stay there for another season. The transfer ban necessitated a reconsideration. They were unable to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He joined in the first place under Sarri's first spell, at that time a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances with the club in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Uncovering His Best Role
It's possible the coach was persistently working to identify the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Originally described as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. Across 63 games during spells with Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
