Franco Baresi, the legendary captain of Milan and its current honorary vice president, was perhaps the player who was most often compared to the equally legendary Franz Beckenbauer who passed away a few days ago.
The German 'Kaiser' passed at the age of 78, after a long illness. Franco Baresi, interviewed by La Gazzetta, also offered his words:
"The day I saw him in Germany, where we had gone for a tournament. I was already an adult, but I almost blushed with excitement. Comparisons with him always made me uncomfortable. We're talking about Beckenbauer, the number 1. No one interpreted the game like him. Yes, I defended and participated in the action, but Beckenbauer was Beckenbauer. Different from others. An idol. A source of inspiration. He was one of the greatest, the greatest defender ever for what he conveyed and left, for how he interpreted the role."
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