Cancellieri Shows Brief Sparks of Exceptional Talent in Bright Spot for Haywire Lazio
The feeling at Lazio's home ground was far from happy during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had allowed a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Unraveling?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or had there never been a binding element holding it together in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, only for him admitted that the club had failed to disclose the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for fiscal problems. Rumours that he might quit were unfounded, but he stated that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic during matches as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining first five games, which included the capital clash. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to determine if they are improving or collapsing.
The Youngster's Surprising Presence
At least one man continued to smile through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this year. He completed the last one at Parma as a loanee and, during the summer break, his owning club were advocating for him to stay there a while longer. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. They were unable to reduce their roster without replacements.
He joined initially during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 Serie A appearances for Lazio in that campaign, almost all of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Finding His Natural Fit
Perhaps the manager was still trying to identify the nature of his skill set. Billed as an attacking winger when he joined, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season 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 scored seven times. Shoehorn
