Matteo Cancellieri Shows Flashing Moments of Exceptional Talent in Positive Aspect for Unstable Lazio
The mood at their home stadium was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had allowed a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their ongoing dissent in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Was Lazio's season unraveling, or was there ever a binding element holding it together in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as head coach this summer, before he to later acknowledge that the management had not mentioned a registration embargo they were facing for accounting issues. Rumours that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic on the pitch as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, it has been hard to ascertain if they're getting better or self-destructing.
Matteo's Unforeseen Return
At least one man remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to feature for Lazio during this campaign. He completed the last one on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his parent club were attempting to stay there a while longer. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. They were unable to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He signed originally during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances with the club in that campaign, almost all of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, later stated Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Finding His True Position
Maybe Sarri was still trying to determine the specific characteristics of his skill set. Billed as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. Across 63 games on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
