Inter’s tribute to Franco Baresi

President Giuseppe Marotta and everyone at FC Internazionale Milano stand in solidarity with the Baresi family and his brother Beppe during this time of grief. Franco Baresi has passed away, taking with him one of the figures who most defined the history of the Milan derby through consistency and excellence. AC Milan captain, team leader and club icon, he built his career on defensive intelligence and leadership that earned recognition even from his opponents.

Born in Travagliato on 8 May 1960, Baresi made 719 appearances and scored 33 goals for the Rossoneri, spending 20 years exclusively with Milan, between 1977 and 1997. In the 35 derbies he played against Inter, his name became synonymous with composure and reliability in a rivalry that was always filled with intensity.

Within that rivalry, the strongest bond was the one with Giuseppe Baresi. Two brothers, two captains, who grew up together and later found themselves wearing opposite colours, yet remained united by a respect that was never in question. For them, the derby was never just a match: it was a direct challenge, a responsibility, but also a balance to be protected. “We tried to leave it outside the door. There was always the concern that neither of us would get injured,” Franco recalled. And then there was that almost everyday normality before the game: joking together, a way of easing the tension before 90 minutes that meant much more than just a football match for Milan.

On 2 March 1980, the day San Siro was named after Giuseppe Meazza, that story was captured in one defining image: the Baresi brothers facing each other inside a stadium that was becoming an even stronger symbol of the city and its rivalry. A photograph that tells the story of the derby better than many words. The final image, once again inside San Siro: the Olympic Torch ceremony, carried together with Beppe Bergomi. An endless derby, a bond with the city that remains unbreakable.

From Inter and the entire Nerazzurri world, the memory of a great opponent, a protagonist of the battles that helped shape the very meaning of the Milan derby. With respect.