Capello urges posthumous Ballon d’Or for Baresi as Juventus once courted him

Fabio Capello ended the interview almost in tears, saying, "Mi viene da piangere. Diamogli un Pallone d’oro alla memoria," as he urged a posthumous Ballon d’Or for the late Franco Baresi, recalling that Juventus had once pressed to sign him.

Capello explained that he had lived through almost the entire sporting career of Franco Baresi, noting that Baresi made his debut under Nils Liedholm when Capello himself was playing for Milan in 1976.

He added that the young defender was nicknamed "Piscinin" in the Milan youth sector, a moniker that stayed with him throughout his career, and that he later captained the Rossoneri to lift numerous trophies.

Capello described Baresi as a fantastic boy who worked tirelessly to become the player he was, calling him the symbol for every newcomer at Milan and emphasizing how his training habits and on‑field presence shaped the growth of his teammates.

He highlighted the unusual family dynamic with Baresi’s brother Beppe, who played for Inter, noting that the two brothers were competitive yet never envious, both represented Italy, and that Franco ultimately won far more honours.

According to Capello, Baresi possessed great speed, intuition, tactical intelligence and an almost unique vision of the game, making him the best defender of his era, not merely because he played for a great Milan side.

Capello recounted a specific episode from the Arrigo Sacchi era: Juventus were pressing to sign Baresi, but after a brief stint as his coach, Capello met him at a restaurant with their wives and convinced him to stay, saying Baresi hesitated but his attachment to Milan prevailed.

He stressed that Baresi was a shy, low‑profile figure who was under‑appreciated internationally, and that he always names Baresi and Paolo Maldini as champions who never received the awards they deserved.

Capello also spoke of Baresi’s relationship with club president Silvio Berlusconi, describing it as one of great respect, and of Baresi’s openness with younger players, citing his humility and the way he would energise a sluggish team, never wanting to lose.

Finally, Capello doubted another player like Baresi would emerge at Milan, concluding that a memorial Ballon d’Or would be fitting given Baresi’s character, his dedication to the shirt and the fans, and his lasting impact on the club’s history.