The mood at their home stadium was far from happy this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a team that had allowed 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
Had their campaign falling apart, or was there ever a binding element keeping it intact in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, but then he publicly stated that the management had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were about to receive for fiscal problems. Reports that he might quit were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio became as messy in their performances as they were off it, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining initial five matches, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to tell if progress is being made or self-destructing.
One individual remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio during this campaign. He spent the last one on loan at Parma and, early this summer, his parent club were advocating for him to extend his stay for another season. The transfer ban necessitated a reconsideration. They were unable to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He joined initially during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances with the club in that campaign, almost all of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who left after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star only to bench him consistently."
Perhaps the manager was still trying to work out the nature of the player's talent. Billed as a flank player on arrival, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile as center forward. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
Elara Vance is a luxury travel expert with over a decade of experience exploring exclusive destinations worldwide.
Arthur Perry
Arthur Perry
Arthur Perry
Arthur Perry