Franco Baresi’s coffin crossed a veritable guard of honor Tuesday morning in front of the Sant’Ambrogio basilica in Milan. Thousands of Rossoneri supporters accompanied one last time the one who will forever remain the emblematic captain of AC Milan, in an atmosphere charged with emotion where the songs resonated without interruption. The improvised stands around the religious building fervently took up the famous “There is only one captain” And “You will always be Franco Baresi”while the applause drowned out the sound of the bells. The tribute brought together all generations of Italian football. Paolo Maldini, Marco Van Basten, Daniele Massaro, Demetrio Albertini, Alessandro Costacurta and Filippo Galli were among the former teammates who came to accompany their friend. Six of them carried the coffin into the basilica before another group of six legends accompanied him as he left, a particularly symbolic gesture to salute the immense legacy left by the former Milan number 6. We also noted the presence of Riccardo Montolivo, Marco Simone, Clarence Seedorf, Fabio Capello and Mauro Tassotti.
The ceremony also brought together numerous institutional figures and representatives of the biggest European clubs. The mayor of Milan Beppe Sala, the Minister of Sports Andrea Abodi, the president of Serie A Ezio Simonelli as well as the president of Inter Giuseppe Marotta made the trip. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona also sent delegations to honor the memory of the man many consider to be the greatest defender in Italian history. AC Milan was represented by Gerry Cardinale and Paolo Scaroni, heavily whistled by some of the fans, but also by Christian Pulisic and Santiago Gimenez, who remained in Italy to treat their injuries. Meanwhile, the rest of the squad continued their summer tour in Perth under the orders of Ruben Amorim, with a minute of silence and a tribute which will also be organized during the next match played in Australia against Inter this Wednesday.
An absence that makes ink flow
However, it was another absence which quickly ignited debates on the other side of the Alps. That of Mike Maignan. The French goalkeeper, captain of AC Milan for two seasons and true leader of the locker room, was not present to pay a final tribute to Franco Baresi. Officially, the goalkeeper of the France team is still continuing his vacation after the 2026 World Cup and should join his teammates directly in Australia. An explanation which, however, struggles to convince some of the Milanese supporters. On social networks, criticism increased throughout the day, with several fans believing that the captain’s armband imposed a presence during such a historic moment for the club. The Frenchman’s absence quickly became one of the most commented on subjects of this day, which was nevertheless dedicated to contemplation.
The controversy takes on particular proportions due to the status of Mike Maignan within the Lombard club. Arriving five seasons ago to succeed Gianluigi Donnarumma, the former LOSC goalkeeper has already played 204 games in the Rossonero jersey and embodies one of the strong faces of the Milan project. His role as captain makes him the custodian of the club’s values ​​and its history, which further fuels the fans’ incomprehension. Certain messages published in Italy are of rare virulence and consider its absence incompatible with the responsibilities linked to the armband. The speculation is all the more numerous as Maignan had recently deleted all the publications from his Instagram account, already fueling questions around his situation, at a time when the Chelsea rumor is being relaunched. Without the slightest word from the main person concerned, this absence continues to provoke a lively debate in a Milan still immersed in emotion after the disappearance of its greatest captain.
