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The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had let in a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.

This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?

Was Lazio's season coming unstitched, or did there exist a thread holding it together in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, only for him admitted that the board had not mentioned a ban on new signings they were set to be hit with for accounting issues. Rumours that his departure was imminent were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "swindled" him.

Lazio were just as chaotic on the pitch as behind the scenes, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining first five games, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, it has been hard to tell if they're getting better or self-destructing.

Cancellieri's Surprising Return

At least one man kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to be at Lazio this season. He spent the last one at Parma as a loanee and, at the start of the off-season, his owning club were advocating for him to stay there temporarily. The registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster without replacements.

He joined in the first place when Sarri was last in charge, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in the 2022-23 season, almost all of those as a substitute. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."

Discovering His Best Role

Perhaps the manager was continuing to attempt to determine the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Labeled as a wide forward on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn