Matteo Cancellieri Shows Brief Sparks of Exceptional Talent in Bright Spot for Unstable Lazio
The atmosphere at Lazio's home ground was anything but joyful this past Saturday. The home side was losing against Torino, a team that had let in 10 goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Unraveling?
Was Lazio's season unraveling, or had there never been a binding element keeping it intact in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, only for him admitted that the management had failed to disclose the transfer ban they were facing for financial irregularities. Speculation that his departure was imminent were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy on the pitch as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining first five games, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to ascertain if they're getting better or collapsing.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Presence
One individual kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this season. He completed the previous campaign at Parma as a loanee and, at the start of the off-season, Lazio were attempting to stay there temporarily. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He signed initially when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, almost all of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom only to bench him consistently."
Finding His Best Role
Perhaps the manager was still trying to work out the specific characteristics of his skill set. Billed as an attacking winger when he joined, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
