Franco Baresi, honorary vice president of Milan, gave a long and interesting interview during an event at the Careni Theater in Pieve di Soligo, focusing on his experience with the Rossoneri. Here, then, are his words reported by 'IlNordEst'.
Franco Baresi, what is behind a successful career like yours?
"There is luck, undoubtedly—talent is not enough. It’s important to never forget where you come from, your origins, who supported you along the way. I had a difficult childhood, but I managed to transform pain and anger into determination and tenacity. Certainly, I also had the good fortune to meet the right people at the right time. People who instilled in me important values, like education and respect."
Milan, your team, was practically a life choice… Baresi commented:
"Milan is like a second family to me, a lifeline. When I was a kid, they paid attention to what I needed. The human aspect is fundamental, because before the athlete, there is the person."
San Siro is your stadium, do you remember your first time in the era of Milanese football?
"I remember a huge emotion—just think, I went from a town of ten thousand inhabitants to the metropolis that is Milan. I had only seen the stadium on TV; I never would have thought I’d play there, that I’d become who I became, and win what I won."
Your debut came at 17 years old in Verona. What do you remember about that time?
"In particular, I remember having the luck to play with Gianni Rivera—he was at the end of his career. We played together only two years, but they were precious years in which I could learn a lot from him, by observing how he moved, how he handled certain situations, his elegance and his attention to those who played less, to those who were on the bench, who worked hard in training just like the starters."
You wore the captain's armband at just 22 years old. What did you feel?
"It wasn’t an easy moment, because we went down to Serie B. But along the way I understood how important it is to pay attention to the good of the team more than to your own. I didn’t talk much, but I tried to lead by example through actions."
They say you were also president Silvio Berlusconi’s favorite… Baresi replied:
"He was an extraordinary president, for his ideas and his ability to convey innovation and his competence to the whole environment. There was a special bond—he wanted to give me, during my farewell match, even a Ballon d’Or, the one I never won. Milan also retired my number 6 jersey."
