signed a new one-year link with Málaga. On 30 August, however, he returned to his country after seven years, joining U.C. Sampdoria for free. Maresca scored his second goal of the season through a bicycle kick, but in a 1–2 home loss against Atalanta B.C. on 4 November 2012. In January 2014, after having featured rarely in the first half of the new campaign, he agreed on a return to the Serie B and joined league leaders U.S. Città di Palermo, who were in need of a playmaker. After contributing to the team's championship conquest, on 15 September 2014 he underwent an operation due to acute appendicitis, and the following January he signed a contract extension to keep him at the club until 2016. On 15 May 2016, in the last matchday, Maresca scored in a 3–2 home win over Hellas Verona F.C. to help save his team from relegation. In September, the free agent joined the opposition who in turn had dropped down a level. On 13 January 2017, Maresca terminated his contract with Verona. On 10 February, the day of his 37th birthday, he announced his retirement via his personal Instagram profile, after a footballing career which spanned nearly twenty years. International career Maresca was selected by the Italy under-20 team for the 2000 Toulon Tournament, and finished runner-up with the under-18s in the 1999 UEFA European Championship. He also represented the under-21 side for two years between 2000 and 2002, although he missed the 2002 UEFA European Championship tournament in Switzerland due to injury as the nation went on to reach the semi-finals of the tournament. Despite his club success, in particular during his time with Sevilla, he was never capped at full level. Style of play A versatile, consistent, fast, energetic and hardworking player, Maresca was capable of playing anywhere in midfield; although he was often deployed as a deep-lying playmaker, due to his ability to orchestrate his team's offensive moves and create goalscoring opportunities, his preferred position was in a box-to-box role, either as a central or attacking midfielder, where he often demonstrated his offensive capabilities, eye for goal and adeptness at making late attacking runs into the penalty area. He was also capable of playing as a mezzala. A quick, dynamic and creative player, with good movement, technique and composure on the ball, he possessed good vision, awareness, tactical intelligence and passing ability; due