After a 3-year stint playing for Serie B team Pescara, De Sanctis became a reserve player for the Serie A giants Juventus, playing only three times in two seasons before joining Udinese in 1999. After two seasons also as a back-up for the Friulan team, he finally managed to start, eventually being capped for the Italy national team. In July 2007 he asked for his agreement with Udinese to be resolved by FIFA and signed for Sevilla.
