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The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had let in 10 goals while netting just two in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.

The Campaign Coming Unstitched?

Had their campaign coming unstitched, or was there ever any cohesion holding it together in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team in the summer transfer window, only for him publicly stated that the board had not mentioned a ban on new signings they were facing for accounting issues. Speculation that he could resign were not true, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.

Lazio became as messy in their performances as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the rest of their first five games, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to tell if they're getting better or imploding.

Cancellieri's Surprising Presence

One individual remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio this year. He was on the last one on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, Lazio were attempting to remain there for another season. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. They were unable to thin their squad with no new signings.

He signed originally during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, almost all of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."

Uncovering His True Position

Maybe Sarri was persistently working to identify the specific characteristics of his skill set. Labeled as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile as center forward. Across 63 games on loan at Empoli and Parma in the past two years, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn