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The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. 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 finishing their ongoing dissent in a continuous dispute with president Claudio Lotito.

This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?

Was Lazio's season coming unstitched, or did there exist any cohesion keeping it intact to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, before he publicly stated that the management had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were set to be hit with for fiscal problems. Reports that he could resign were not true, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.

Lazio were just as chaotic in their performances as they were off it, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it has been hard to determine if they are improving or imploding.

Cancellieri's Surprising Return

At least one man remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio this season. He spent the previous campaign with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, his parent club were attempting to stay there temporarily. The transfer ban necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad lacking backup options.

He signed originally under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in the 2022-23 season, almost all of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential then never playing him."

Discovering His Best Role

Perhaps the manager was persistently working to identify the nature of his skill set. Originally described as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for the majority of that term as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. During 63 outings during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn