In January 2004, he was signed by Italian Serie A club Chievo on free transfer. He signed a 6 months contract with option to extend to 30 June 2007. In January 2005 he was loaned to Serie B club Catania along with Higo. Catania later bought him in co-ownership deal for €150,000. He followed the team promoted to Serie A and played his first Serie A match on 18 February 2007 against Fiorentina since he left Chievo 3 years before. That season he only played 8 Serie A matches. In June 2007, Chievo was announced to buy back the player from Catania through closed tender bid mediated by Lega Calcio, for €440,000. He was a regular starter for Chievo in 2007–08 Serie B, partnered with Davide Mandelli, winning the "cadetto" that season and promoted back to Serie A in 2008. With arrival of Santiago Morero and Mario Yepes, César became a backup again in 2008–09 Serie A.