Paternoster started his career in the youth team of Atlanta in 1919. He made his breakthrough into the first team in 1921.[1]
In 1926 Paternoster joined Racing Club de Avellaneda where he played until 1932. Between 1930 and 1931, he was loaned for free by Racing to Vélez Sársfield to play for the club in a Pan-American tour that took them from Chile to the United States.[2]