Massimo Maccarone is rarely mentioned in the same breath as Cristiano Ronaldo, but the Italian knows they share a common bond: both have tested the tactical mastery of Maurizio Sarri.
Empoli favourite Maccarone played at the Tuscan club when Sarri made his reputation there in a three-year stint that began in 2012, before the coach went on to Napoli, Chelsea and now Juventus.
Veteran boss Sarri only came to prominence in his early fifties, when Maccarone was a key figure in his Empoli side, just as Ronaldo now is at Juve.