Cancellieri Displays Brief Sparks of Genius in Silver Lining for Unstable Lazio
The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had allowed a total of 10 goals while scoring only two in their previous five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were finishing their latest protest in a continuous dispute with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Unraveling?
Had their campaign unraveling, or had there never been a thread maintaining its structure in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, only for him admitted that the club had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were set to be hit with for accounting issues. Reports 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, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the rest of their opening fixtures, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to ascertain if progress is being made or imploding.
Cancellieri'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 last season on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his parent club were attempting to stay there a while longer. The transfer ban forced a rethink. They were unable to weaken their team lacking backup options.
He joined initially when Sarri was last in charge, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances with the club in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, later stated Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star only to bench him consistently."
Discovering His Best Role
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to determine the specific characteristics of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a flank player when he joined, Cancellieri instead found himself most of that campaign as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
