Matteo Cancellieri Shows Flashing Moments of Exceptional Talent in Positive Aspect for Unstable Lazio
The atmosphere at Lazio's home ground was anything but joyful on Saturday afternoon. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a side that had let in ten goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in a continuous dispute with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Had their campaign falling apart, or did there exist a binding element keeping it intact from the beginning? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, before he admitted that the management had failed to disclose the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for fiscal problems. Speculation that he might quit were unfounded, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized in their performances as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining initial five matches, featuring the derby della Capitale. At any given moment, it has been hard to tell if progress is being made or collapsing.
Matteo's Surprising Comeback
At least one man remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to remain with Lazio during this campaign. He spent the previous campaign at Parma as a loanee and, at the start of the off-season, his owning club were advocating for him to remain there for another season. The signing restriction forced a rethink. They were unable to weaken their team with no new signings.
Cancellieri arrived initially when Sarri was last in charge, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in that campaign, the vast majority of those as a substitute. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
Perhaps the manager was still trying to identify the nature of his skill set. Billed as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings during spells with Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
