The farewell of sport and institutions to the icon of Milan and Italian football

A symbol of values ​​taken to the highest levels, on and off the pitch. The world of politics and sport express their deepest condolences for the passing of Franco Baresi, historic captain of Milan who passed away 66 years after a long illness.

Sport’s condolences

The Curva Sud Milano, historically and inextricably linked with its heart and flags to Franco Baresi, remembered the Rossoneri captain who passed away today with a story on Instagram: “Inimitable Rossoneri flag. 6 forever, Captain”.

The note from the Milan Club Montecitorio was also immediate: “The passing of Franco Baresi deeply saddens us. An inimitable champion passes away, the flag of Milan and one of the greatest in Italian football. Baresi was much more than a champion, he was the Captain, the authentic witness of what football is: class, team spirit, sacrifice, attachment to the shirt, respect for the opponent. Values that he embodied throughout his career with extraordinary consistency, on and off the pitch.” – continues the note –  “Even before being a champion, Franco Baresi was in fact a great man. With his example he accompanied entire generations of sportsmen, leaving a legacy that goes far beyond the successes and trophies he won. And he remained so even after he stopped playing. With Franco Baresi, ‘the swimming pool’ but also ‘Kaiser Franz’, an example goes. To his family, to Milan and to all those who loved him we express our most sincere condolences. His memory will remain forever in the hearts of every AC Milan fan and all sports lovers”, concludes the note.

The greeting of the opponents

“There are people who, with their talent, make history. And others who, with their humanity, remain there forever. Franco Baresi was both. Class, style, leadership and respect on and off the pitch. An example for generations of footballers and fans, loved and esteemed by all football fans. His memory will live forever. Juventus rallies around the Baresi family and Milan in this moment of profound pain.” We read in the statement from the Juventus team. Historic opponent of the Captain, and not the only club to send its greetings to the champion: “Genoa joins in the pain of the family, the world of football and Milan for the passing of Franco Baresi, a cornerstone and legend of world football”. The Ligurian club wrote it in X on the day of the player’s passing. “Rest in peace, Franco”, concludes the message.

“Goodbye to Franco Baresi, protagonist of the great challenges of the Milan Derby and one of the figures who most defined the history of the rivalry. Captain, team man and flag of Milan, he experienced every confrontation with Inter between competition and respect, in a challenge that wrote unforgettable pages of Italian football. President Giuseppe Marotta and all of FC Internazionale Milano rally around the Baresi family, his brother Beppe and AC Milan in this moment of pain”. Thus Inter on social media on the day of the footballer’s passing.

The memory of the sporting world

The sporting world also remembered timely: “The president of the FIGC Giovanni Malago’, the technical director and president of the Club Italia Claudio Ranieri and the coach Roberto Mancini mourn the passing of Franco Baresi, one of the greatest Italian footballers of all time who died today at the age of 66. Seven-time candidate for the Ballon d’Or, he placed second in 1989 behind Marco van Basten, the former defender of Milan and the national team, occupies 33rd place in the ranking of the best footballers of the twentieth century drawn up by the IFFHS. Since 2013 he has also been in the ‘Hall of Fame of Italian football’. Malagò always underlined how: “Italian football has lost one of its legends, an extraordinary champion who in his entire career wore only two shirts, that of Milan and the blue one. A romantic choice, which rightfully entered him into the hearts of the fans and millions of Italians. We will remember him as he deserves during the next matches of the national team, the national team for which he has always shown an exceptional attachment, becoming one of its most glorious symbols”. This was stated by the federal president of the Fgci, Giovanni Malago’.

“For those who love football, Franco Baresi will forever be a legend. The silent Captain, for whom a look, a gesture was enough to say everything. An immense champion, with Milan and with the national team, an example of class, style, attachment to the shirt, elegance, correctness, on and off the pitch. I was lucky enough to also know him as a man, from when he wrote a column in our weekly ‘il Sabato’ on the values of football, until the last time, in which we inaugurated the football pitch together in Madonna dei Poveri, one of the suburbs of Milan”. This is what Maurizio Lupi, president of Noi Moderati and of the Milan Club Parliament, said. “He was a man of few words – he continues – but his presence was enough for the children to pass on an example to them. That’s what a champion does, he leaves something great. With him a part of the history of Milan and Italian football goes away. We are close to the family, to Milan and to all the people who loved him in this moment of profound pain. His number 6, his smile and his example will continue to live in the heart of every Rossoneri. Thank you for everything Captain”. (

The greeting of Politics

The world of politics also wanted to pay homage to the champion, starting from the top of the government.  “With the passing of Franco Baresi, Italy loses not only one of the greatest champions in its sporting history, but also an example of loyalty, seriousness and dedication”, wrote Giorgia Meloni on social media. “Captain of Milan and the national team, he wore the same colors for an entire career, experiencing loyalty as a value and the armband as a responsibility”, he adds. “He has shown that you can become a legend without ever ceasing to be a point of reference, on and off the pitch. My most sincere condolences go to his family, to the fans and to all those who loved him”, concludes the Prime Minister.

Condolences followed by the comment of the president of the Senate, Ignazio La Russa.”With the passing of Franco Baresi, Italian football loses one of its greatest legends. Flag of Milan and unforgettable protagonist of the national team, he represented an example of talent, loyalty and love for the shirt. I address, on my behalf and on behalf of the Senate of the Republic, my heartfelt wishes to his family, to AC Milan and to all his loved ones condolences”.

“With Franco Baresi, one of the greatest legends of Italian football disappears. Captain of Milan under our president Silvio Berlusconi and of the national team, he represented for entire generations a model of seriousness, loyalty, rigor and extraordinary attachment to the shirt”, states the president of the Constitutional Affairs commission of the Chamber, Nazario Pagano (FI). “As kids, many of us learned to love football by watching champions like him, capable of winning without ever losing humility and a sense of duty. Baresi was the symbol of an unrepeatable era and of an Italy that, through sport, was able to excite, unite and make the country proud. With his history and the values he embodied he rightfully enters the legend of Italian sport. I extend my most sincere condolences to his family and to all those who loved him”, he concludes

“Hello Franco Baresi. Italy loses one of the strongest footballers ever, a legend who will remain forever in the memory of all of us, who were left speechless by his advances and his epic progressions. We hold each other tightly around the pain of his loved ones”. the M5s president, Giuseppe Conte, wrote on social media.