It is 9 in the morning and, even though the funeral is scheduled to start at 11, hundreds of Rossoneri fans are already present in the square in front of the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio in Milan to pay their last respects to Franco Baresi. The jerseys with the number 6 are numerous, almost all with historic sponsors like “Medionalum” or “Rete 4”. Also indispensable is the red and black striped flag with the inscription Baresi and the “6” that for years waved in Curva Sud.
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The first of the former teammates to arrive is Filippo Galli: the former defender is in tears. In 13 seasons at Milan, he shared the field with Baresi 240 times. Gradually, all the others arrive: Giovanni Galli – the first to speak to journalists -, Paolo Maldini, Marco Van Basten, Pietro Paolo Virdis, Roberto Donadoni, Daniele Massaro, Aldo Serena, Roberto Baggio, Billy Costacurta and Claudio Ranieri. Representing the club – stuck in Perth for training -, besides CEO Massimo Calvelli, are president Paolo Scaroni and owner Gerry Cardinale, greeted upon their arrival by the fans’ boos.
Among those present is also Demetrio Albertini, who remembers Baresi like this: “He left us very young, everyone has their memories and the emotions he gave us in these years of football, on and off the field. The memories are many. The hug after the goal scored in the semifinal against Monaco, with his embrace when it seemed to me to have the same emotion as the goal scored twenty seconds before.”
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Also arriving are Giuseppe Marotta, president of Inter, and Beppe Bergomi. The “uncle”, much applauded, states: “Baresi is a universal value, an example to follow for a sense of belonging that no longer exists today.” This is what Torino president Urbano Cairo says: “Baresi was a great man, an extraordinary Milan captain. He produced great football but was always humble and few words. His passing is a great loss. There are no more people like him.”
Once everyone has arrived, around 11, Baresi’s coffin appears, greeted by the crowd’s emotion and the fans’ chants: “6 forever Franco Baresi” and “There is only one captain.” Among those carrying the coffin on their shoulders are also Paolo Maldini and Daniele Massaro. The ceremony begins at 11:20. Inside the Basilica, in the front row is Maura Baresi. Monsignor Faccendini begins like this: “Franco never hid his faith which gave him a sense of responsibility. The formation he received in the oratory, he brought it onto the field.” Later he says: “Franco taught us that it is possible to become great while remaining small. When everything goes dark it is not necessary for everything to become bright again: a little light is enough to live again.” The funeral concludes shortly after noon. At the end of the ceremony, accompanied by a long applause lasting six minutes, Demetrio Albertini, Alessandro Costacurta, Pietropaolo Virdis, Massimo Ambrosini, Marco Simone and Alberico Evani carry Kaiser Franz’s coffin out of the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio. The fans sing “you will always be with us.”
