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The feeling at Lazio's home ground was far from happy this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had let in ten goals while netting just two in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their ongoing dissent in a continuous dispute with chairman Claudio Lotito.

A Season Falling Apart?

Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or had there never been any cohesion holding it together in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, but then he to later acknowledge that the management had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Reports that his departure was imminent were not true, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "deceived" him.

Lazio became as messy in their performances as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other initial five matches, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, observers have struggled to ascertain if they are improving or self-destructing.

Matteo's Unforeseen Presence

One individual remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio this season. He spent the previous campaign with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, his parent club were advocating for him to stay there temporarily. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster with no new signings.

He joined originally during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances with the club in that campaign, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."

Uncovering His Natural Fit

Perhaps the manager was continuing to attempt to determine the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a flank player on arrival, Cancellieri yet was deployed for the majority of that term as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he scored seven times. Shoehorn