Matteo Cancellieri Shows Brief Sparks of Exceptional Talent in Silver Lining for Haywire Lazio
The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, an opponent that had allowed ten goals while scoring only two in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Unraveling?
Was Lazio's season falling apart, or had there never been a binding element maintaining its structure to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as head coach in the summer transfer window, but then he to later acknowledge that the club had not mentioned the transfer ban they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Rumours that he could resign were not true, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic in their performances as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other initial five matches, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to tell if progress is being made or self-destructing.
Matteo's Surprising Return
A single player remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio this year. He completed the last one with Parma on loan and, early this summer, Lazio were attempting to stay there temporarily. The signing restriction necessitated a reconsideration. They were unable to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He signed in the first place under Sarri's first spell, at that time a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Discovering His Best Role
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to determine the specific characteristics of his skill set. Billed as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile as center forward. Across 63 games during spells with Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
