The atmosphere at their home stadium was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, a team that had conceded a total of 10 goals while scoring only two in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Falling Apart?
Had their campaign coming unstitched, or was there ever any cohesion keeping it intact in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri to lead the team during the off-season, only for him publicly stated that the club had not mentioned the transfer ban they were facing for fiscal problems. Rumours that he could resign 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 losing the remaining first five games, featuring the derby della Capitale. From one game to the next, it has been hard to tell if they're getting better or self-destructing.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Return
At least one man kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio this season. He spent the last one at Parma as a loanee and, during the summer break, his parent club were attempting to remain there temporarily. The signing restriction necessitated a reconsideration. Lazio could not afford to thin their squad without replacements.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 matches in the league with the club in 2022-23, all but one of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Finding His True Position
Perhaps the manager was continuing to attempt to determine the nature of the player's talent. Billed as a wide forward on arrival, Cancellieri yet was deployed for the majority of that term as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
