Matteo Cancellieri Shows Brief Sparks of Brilliance in Silver Lining for Haywire Lazio
The mood at their home stadium was anything but joyful this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a side that had conceded a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their latest protest in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress unraveling, or had there never been a binding element keeping it intact in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, but then he to later acknowledge that the club had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were facing for financial irregularities. Speculation that he might quit were unfounded, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Roman club appeared equally disorganized in their performances as off the field, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining initial five matches, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, it's been difficult to tell if they're getting better or collapsing.
Matteo's Unexpected Presence
At least one man kept smiling through it. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to feature for Lazio this year. He spent last season with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, Lazio were attempting to stay there for another season. The signing restriction necessitated a reconsideration. Lazio could not afford to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He signed originally when Sarri was last in charge, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances with the club in that campaign, all but one of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Finding His True Position
Perhaps the manager was still trying to work out the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Billed as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
