Cancellieri Shows Glimpses of Genius in Bright Spot for Haywire Lazio
The feeling at Lazio's home ground was decidedly gloomy this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had conceded ten goals while netting just two in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Was Lazio's season coming unstitched, or was there ever a thread holding it together to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, only for him publicly stated that the board had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Rumours that his departure was imminent were not true, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic during matches as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining first five games, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to determine if they're getting better or self-destructing.
The Youngster's Surprising Presence
One individual continued to smile amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to remain with Lazio this season. He spent the last one with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, Lazio were attempting to extend his stay for another season. The registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. They were unable to thin their squad with no new signings.
He signed initially when Sarri was last in charge, at that time a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances for Lazio in that campaign, the vast majority of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Discovering His Natural Fit
Perhaps the manager was still trying to determine the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a wide forward on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. During 63 outings on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
