After spending his youth career with Napoli, Ferrante made his Serie A debut with the club's senior side against Como on 25 June 1989, winning the 1989–90 Serie A title with the team the following season. He subsequently spend two seasons in Serie B with Reggiana and Pisa, scoring 13 goals during the 1991–92 Serie B season. After returning to Napoli in 1992, he moved to Parma in November on a co-ownership deal. The following season, Napoli sold him to newly promoted Serie A side Piacenza. He spent the next two seasons at Perugia, and Serie B side Salernitana, respectively.