Hundreds of mourners gathered outside the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio in Milan two hours before the funeral services for Franco Baresi, according to local reports from the scene. Fans carried the rossonero flag bearing the number 6, chanting slogans like “c’è solo un capitano” and singing “You Never Walk Alone” while former teammates and club executives arrived to pay their respects.
Funeral Attendance and Notable Figures at Sant’Ambrogio
Former Milan players including Mauro Tassotti, Alberico Evani, Filippo Galli, Nevio Scala, Angelo Colombo, Marco Simone, and Riccardo Montolivo attended the service, alongside Milan chief executive Massimo Calvelli. Ovations greeted Paolo Maldini and Marco Van Basten as they entered the basilica alongside Tassotti and Pietro Paolo Virdis, according to eyewitness accounts.
Other Italian football clubs sent high-level delegations to honor the defender. Inter president Giuseppe Marotta and former player Beppe Bergomi received applause upon entering, while a Juventus delegation including sporting director Riky Massara and Gianluca Pessotto attended alongside Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi. Fiorentina was represented by Giancarlo Antognoni with the club standard, and Torino president Urbano Cairo was also present.
Homilies and Tributes From Football Figures
Monsignor Carlo Faccendini, the abbot of Sant’Ambrogio, referenced Baresi’s affectionate nickname during the homily. “In the Gospels, Jesus shows an explicit preference for the small, for those who are ‘piscinin’, as Franco Baresi was affectionately called,” monsignor Faccendini stated, noting that the player’s faith gave him stability, responsibility, and a deep sensitivity.
Inter president Giuseppe Marotta described Baresi as an icon of a lost value in modern football. “Franco Baresi represented an icon of football and carried with him a great value that today has been lost, the sense of belonging,” Marotta said, according to source reports. Torino president Urbano Cairo added that Baresi remained a grand gentleman who knew how to celebrate victories while accepting defeats.
Public Reactions and Institutional Presence
Outside the basilica, crowd reactions varied as institutional figures arrived. Protesters whistled and shouted “vattene” alongside jeers directed at Milan owner Gerry Cardinale, club president Paolo Scaroni, and Milan mayor Beppe Sala, according to on-site observations.
Institutional representatives from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Lega Serie A also paid their respects. New FIGC technical director Claudio Ranieri entered the basilica to applause alongside Roberto Baggio, joined by Lega Serie A president Ezio Simonelli. Floral tributes filled the sagrato outside the church, sent by FIFA, Real Madrid, Inter, Roma, the City of Milan, the Lombardy Region, and individuals including Gordon Singer and former Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who attended the funeral of Franco Baresi in Milan?
Numerous former Milan players attended, including Paolo Maldini, Marco Van Basten, Mauro Tassotti, and Alessandro Costacurta, alongside club executives and representatives from rival Italian clubs such as Inter and Juventus.
What did Inter president Giuseppe Marotta say about Baresi?
According to reports from the funeral, Marotta stated that Baresi represented an icon of football who carried a profound sense of belonging that has largely been lost in the modern game.
Which clubs sent official delegations to the service?
Delegations from Inter, Juventus, Fiorentina, Torino, Real Madrid, and Barcelona attended or sent floral tributes alongside representatives from FIFA, the FIGC, and Lega Serie A.
Did you know? Franco Baresi spent his professional club career playing for AC Milan.
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