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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 team that had conceded ten goals while scoring only two in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.

A Season Falling Apart?

Was the team's progress falling apart, or did there exist a binding element maintaining its structure in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, only for him admitted that the management had omitted to inform him about a ban on new signings they were facing for accounting issues. Rumours that he might quit were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.

Lazio appeared equally disorganized during matches as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other initial five matches, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, it has been hard to ascertain if progress is being made or self-destructing.

The Youngster's Surprising Return

One individual kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to be at Lazio during this campaign. He spent last season on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his owning club were attempting to remain there temporarily. The transfer ban forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to thin their squad with no new signings.

He joined originally during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances for Lazio in the 2022-23 season, all but one of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended after that campaign, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."

Finding His Natural Fit

Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to work out the exact type of his skill set. Billed as a wide forward when he joined, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. Across 63 games during spells with Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn