Cancellieri Displays Glimpses of Brilliance in Silver Lining for Struggling Lazio
The atmosphere at their home stadium was decidedly gloomy this past Saturday. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had allowed a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Unraveling?
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or did there exist a thread maintaining its structure to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri to lead the team during the off-season, but then he admitted that the club had not mentioned the transfer ban they were facing for financial irregularities. Rumours that he could resign were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic in their performances as off the field, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other first five games, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to ascertain if progress is being made or self-destructing.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Comeback
At least one man kept smiling through it. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to remain with Lazio this season. He spent last season with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his parent club were advocating for him to extend his stay a while longer. The transfer ban forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to reduce their roster without replacements.
He joined originally under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star but then not selecting him."
Discovering His Natural Fit
Maybe Sarri was persistently working to work out the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as a flank player on arrival, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
