The news of the passing of Franco Baresi, an undisputed symbol of AC Milan, has shocked everyone at the club on Via Aldo Rossi, including Ruben Amorim’s first team, who are currently in Australia for their summer tour. Yesterday, during training, the Rossoneri squad wanted to pay tribute to the former captain with a minute’s silence in his memory, with his shirt placed in the centre of the circle formed by the players, the Portuguese coach and his entire staff. Despite many of them not knowing him personally or having had few opportunities to see him in recent times, his passing affected everyone, and yesterday at the Perth training camp there was a great sense of emotion and sadness.
Baresi’s funeral: team’s return from Australia too complicated – the reasons
Baresi’s funeral will take place on Tuesday at 11:00 at the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio in Milan. As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport this morning, the entire club will be there in spirit, but the team will not be able to attend the ceremony in person. This is not because the players and everyone currently in Australia do not want to be there, but because, from a logistical perspective and due to prior commitments, returning to Italy at this moment would be extremely complicated. Milan are on the other side of the world, and organising a return trip would have been very difficult.
The alternative would have been to cancel the tour, but that option would have created major problems, especially for the fans (both the derby against Inter in Perth and the other friendly against Chelsea in Jakarta are sold out), and to a lesser extent for the club itself, given the contracts already signed with the organisers.
Baresi’s funeral: Cardinale will attend, Pulisic and Gimenez could also be present
Representing Milan at the funeral on Tuesday will primarily be Gerry Cardinale, who yesterday dedicated this message to Baresi:
“Today the Rossoneri family mourns the passing of the great Franco Baresi. For generations, Franco embodied the values, character and excellence that define this club. Even over the last year, while facing his greatest challenge, he was always by Milan’s side, quietly reminding us what it means to represent these colours. Franco’s legacy is profound and will last forever. Our thoughts go to his family and to everyone whose life he touched.”
Alongside the Milan owner, club president Paolo Scaroni, other directors and many Casa Milan employees will also be present. As for the team’s representation, Christian Pulisic and Santiago Gimenez could attend, as they are not in Australia with the rest of the Rossoneri squad but are instead working at Milanello while recovering from their respective injuries.
