Matteo Cancellieri Shows Flashing Moments of Exceptional Talent in Bright Spot for Struggling Lazio
The atmosphere at Lazio's home ground was far from happy this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a team that had allowed ten goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Was Lazio's season coming unstitched, or had there never been a binding element holding it together from the beginning? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, only for him publicly stated that the board had not mentioned the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for accounting issues. Reports that he might quit were unfounded, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic in their performances as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it has been hard to tell if progress is being made or self-destructing.
Matteo's Surprising Presence
A single player continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to feature for Lazio this year. He completed last season with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, his parent club were pushing for him to extend his stay a while longer. The registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He signed in the first place under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances for Lazio in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential then never playing him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was still trying to determine the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Originally described as a flank player on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
