While at Empoli, he was loaned out three times, enjoying success with Viareggio in the 1998–99 campaign, where he scored 12 goals in 25 games for the Tuscan side.
Sementara di Empoli, ia dipinjamkan sebanyak tiga kali, menikmati sukses dengan Viareggio di musim 1998-1999, dimana ia mencetak 12 gol dalam 25 pertandingan untuk tim Tuscan.