Matteo Cancellieri Demonstrates Glimpses of Brilliance in Silver Lining for Haywire Lazio
The atmosphere at Lazio's home ground was decidedly gloomy this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had allowed a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their ongoing dissent in a continuous dispute with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Had their campaign falling apart, or had there never been a thread holding it together from the beginning? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach this summer, only for him admitted that the board had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were set to be hit with for fiscal problems. Speculation that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized during matches as they were off it, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other initial five matches, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to ascertain if they are improving or collapsing.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Return
At least one man kept smiling through it. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to feature for Lazio this season. He was on the last one at Parma as a loanee and, during the summer break, Lazio were attempting to stay there a while longer. The transfer ban forced a rethink. They were unable to weaken their team with no new signings.
He joined initially when Sarri was last in charge, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances with the club in that campaign, the vast majority of those as a substitute. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Finding His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to identify the specific characteristics of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. Across 63 games on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
