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The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had conceded 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their latest protest in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.

This Year's Efforts Unraveling?

Had their campaign falling apart, or had there never been a binding element holding it together from the beginning? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach in the summer transfer window, but then he to later acknowledge that the board had not mentioned a registration embargo they were facing for fiscal problems. Reports that he could resign were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "misled" him.

The Roman club were just as chaotic on the pitch as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining first five games, which included the capital clash. From one game to the next, observers have struggled to tell if they're getting better or collapsing.

Cancellieri's Surprising Return

One individual continued to smile amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio this year. He completed the previous campaign with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his parent club were advocating for him to extend his stay for another season. The registration embargo forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to weaken their team lacking backup options.

He signed initially when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances in Lazio colors in 2022-23, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential then never playing him."

Discovering His Natural Fit

Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to work out the nature of his skill set. Labeled as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile as center forward. Across 63 games while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn