Matteo Cancellieri Shows Flashing Moments of Exceptional Talent in Positive Aspect for Haywire Lazio
The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had let in ten goals while netting just two in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Unraveling?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or had there never been any cohesion keeping it intact in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as head coach this summer, before he admitted that the management had not mentioned a ban on new signings they were facing for financial irregularities. Speculation that he could resign were not true, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy during matches as behind the scenes, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining initial five matches, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to ascertain if progress is being made or collapsing.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Comeback
A single player continued to smile amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this year. He spent last season on loan at Parma and, early this summer, his parent club were pushing for him to remain there temporarily. The registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. Lazio could not afford to thin their squad lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived originally during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 matches in the league with the club in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended after that campaign, subsequently claimed Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential only to bench him consistently."
Uncovering His True Position
Maybe Sarri was still trying to determine the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Originally described as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. During 63 outings on loan at Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
