Fausto had a playing career lasting over 20 years, beginning in 1979 and ending in 2000.

The majority of his career was spent at Sampdoria, where he spent four years under Sven-Goran Eriksson and first met Roberto Mancini as a player. He left for the last time in 1998, but his time there was interspersed with spells at Empoli, Parma and Roma.

The attacking midfielder won five Coppa Italias with Sampdoria between 1985 and 1994, as well as a European Cup Winners' Cup in 1990. He added to his domestic cup haul with Roma in 1991, collecting another Coppa Italia.

He became player-coach at Imperia in 2000, followed by a brief spell at Catania, this time as number two to former team-mate Pietro Vierchowod. He joined up with another previous colleague, Mancini, at Fiorentina in 2002.

He rejoined his countryman at Inter Milan two years later, and for the next four years contributed to one of the most successful periods in the club's history, winning two Coppa Italias and three Serie A titles.