A talented goalkeeper in his youth, he was once thought to be the heir of Walter Zenga for the Italy national team, although he failed to live up to his reputation, despite a successful club career.

[2] Nista has played with Sorrento, Pisa, Leeds United, Ancona, Parma, and Torino in his career, serving mainly as a backup goalkeeper in later years.

With Parma, Nista won a Coppa Italia and an UEFA Cup double in 1999, although he was mainly a reserve behind goalkeepers Giovanni Galli, Luca Bucci, and Gianluigi Buffon during his time at the club.

[3] Marco van Basten scored both his first and final goals in Serie A against Nista, in 1987 and 1993, respectively.

[4] At international level, Nista also represented the Italy national under-21 football team on 3 occasions in 1988.