Cardinale guides Milan's heartfelt Perth tribute to Baresi

During a training session in Perth, Australia, AC Milan players were informed that former captain and honorary vice‑president Franco Baresi had died, prompting an immediate on‑field tribute. The squad gathered at the centre of the pitch, one player wearing the iconic number 6, and observed a minute of silence that ended with collective applause, a moment described as intimate and moving.

The announcement of Baresi’s passing arrived while the team was still training, and the players, already aware of the seriousness of his health condition, were told of his death as soon as the session concluded.

Senior defenders Davide Gabbia and Rafael Leão, who have known Baresi personally during their long spells at the club, stood alongside academy prospects Alessandro Bartesaghi, Lorenzo Camarda and Davide Comotto, all of whom regard the late captain as a mythical reference for the Rossoneri spirit.

The training programme in Perth will continue unchanged, but the atmosphere has undeniably shifted. A player noted that without the iconic captain, “nothing will be the same,” underscoring the emotional weight of the loss.

Gerry Cardinale, owner of AC Milan, said, “Today the Rossoneri family mourns the loss of the great Franco Baresi. For generations, Franco embodied the values, character and excellence that define this club. Even in his final year, facing his greatest challenge, he remained by Milan’s side, silently reminding us what it means to wear these colours.”

Cardinale added that Baresi’s legacy will endure forever and that the club’s thoughts are with his family and everyone whose lives he touched, reinforcing the cultural bond he built with generations of supporters.