In 1992, he joined Bari, with whom he enjoyed a promotion to Serie A in his first season and another taste of top flight in 1993–94.
This was then followed by a number of footballing seasons with several other teams, mostly from Southern Italy, including a comeback stint at Palermo under head coach Ignazio Arcoleo.
Barone retired in 2006 after playing a single season at Eccellenza Sicily club Carini, then coached by his friend and former Palermo teammate Rosario Compagno.
[3] On 31 August 2011, following Mangia's appointment as new Palermo caretaker, Barone was assigned first team duties too.
He successively followed Mangia after the latter's appointment as new head coach of the Italy national under-21 football team between 2012 and 2013.