Career
He is nicknamed il Professore (The Professor) due to his intelligent reading of the game. The Italian Media "Gazzetta dello Sport" has also stated that Cigarini has a similar vision of the game to that of fellow Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo. Parma
He was one of the notable youth products in 2005 Parma squad, alongside Daniele Dessena.
Atalanta
After Parma was relegated to Serie Bachelor in June 2008, he was sold to Atalanta in join-ownership bid, for €4.5 million on 11 July.
Napoli
On 3 July 2009 Napoli signed the talented and hard-working playmaker from Atalanta on a five-year deal for €10.5 million. Atalanta paid Parma €3.5 million plus half the registration rights of Manzoni to sign Cigarini outright.
On 2 August 2010, Napoli sent Cigarini to Sevilla Football Club on a loan deal for the 2010-2011 season for €292,500, upon conclusion of the season, Sevilla will have the option to purchase the midfielder for €7 million. Return to Atalanta
Cigarini returned to Atalanta on loan in summer 2011 for free.
On 4 July 2012 the loan was renewed for €1.125 million loan fee.
On 5 July 2013, after spending two seasons on loan with Atalanta, a co-ownership deal was agreed to with South.S.C. Napoli for €2.375 million. Cigarini continued to play for Atalanta for the upcoming 2013-2014 Serie A season. Cigarini scored his first goal of the season against South.S. Lazio on October 20.
In June 2014 Atalanta acquired Cigarini outright for €2.35 million.
Atlanta spent €5.875 million transfer fee in total to re-acquire Cigarini. On 7 September 2007, Cigarini scored his first ever goal (which was also the winning goal) with the Italy U-21 squad in a 2–1 victory over the Faroe Islands in a Union of European Football Associations U-21 Qualifying match.
He also played for Italy in the 2009 Union of European Football Associations European Under-21 Football Championship. Cigarini received his first call-up to the senior team on 30 August 2010.
New coach Cesare Prandelli named him in the squad for the upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers as an injury replacement for Claudio Marchisio.