Benito Carbone's football journey spans countries, cultures and generations, but one chapter still stands above all the others: Sheffield Wednesday.
Long before Inter Milan trained the youth and shaped Italy's next generation, a teammate and a club changed everything.
It was teammate Paolo Di Canio who helped Sheffield Wednesday become a second home. Now he has explained everything to Gazzetta dello Sport.
Paolo Di Canio and the partnership that changed everything
Carbone doesn't hesitate when he talks about Di Canio. The pair played together for one and a half seasons at the Oval, from August 1997 to September 1998.
Carbone was already at Hillsborough, having joined in October 1996. Di Canio arrived in August 1997, and the connection was immediate. First, there was the famous unveiling photo in which the pair were seen sharing an uncooked frozen pizza. Then the connection came on the pitch.
Together the two Italians formed one of the most creative and fondly remembered partnerships in Sheffield Wednesday's modern history. In his only full season, Di Canio led the club with 14 goals, while Carbone contributed nine goals of his own.
According to the latter, the connection was immediate, intuitive and almost telepathic.
"Our families were always together, our kids were the same age," He remembers.
"On the pitch, we understood each other immediately, just one look was enough. Di Canio was the best partner I have ever played with."
Why did surviving Sheffield Wednesday feel like winning the title?
Yet despite the brilliance of the partnership, Sheffield Wednesday had a struggling season.
There were high expectations following Di Canio's arrival but instead the Owls struggled for consistency. The club spent most of the campaign fighting relegation, ultimately finishing 16th and surviving by the narrowest of margins.
Most fans don't remember it fondly, but Carbone has a different take. For the Italian, surviving Sheffield Wednesday was no footnote, it was a triumph.
"Staying at Sheffield Wednesday was like winning the title," He adds.
An era of the Premier League that produced a footballer
Benito Carbone, perhaps, is looking back on his experiences beyond Sheffield Wednesday. His playing years in England were defined by challenges and successes.
He faced defenders such as Tony Adams, earned praise from Rio Ferdinand and built a reputation as one of the league's most unpredictable midfielders.
At Sheffield Wednesday, he found freedom, and the partnership with Di Canio brought him joy. Purpose was also added to the fight for survival. And he fondly remembers the time when the Premier League was still being formed.
"It was not such a global league yet, but it was a very tough championship," He concluded.
"There were a lot of English players there, and the game was all about the second ball: passing, aggression, heart. I had to face very tough defenders like Tony Adams. Rio Ferdinand once told me he didn't sleep all night before playing against me. What a compliment!"
For Carbone, Sheffield Wednesday was never going to be just another milestone in his career.
It was where football became family and where the help of a teammate changed the course of his life. That's why survival felt like victory, and that's why this chapter still means everything.
