Rizzitelli started his professional career for Serie B team Cesena during the 1984–85 season, making his Serie A debut in the 1987–88 season. He played four seasons with the small side from Emilia-Romagna before joining A.S. Roma in 1988, where he scored a total of 29 goals in six seasons with the "giallorossi", winning a Coppa Italia in 1991. In the same year reached the UEFA Cup Final, but his goal was unable to prevent them from losing to Inter Milan. Roma were also subsequently defeated in the 1991 Supercoppa Italiana.