AC Milan’s Italian Honorary vice-president and former player Franco Baresi arrives for the draw ceremony for the 2022-2023 UEFA Champions League football tournament in Istanbul on August 25, 2022. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)
Milan have been forced to release a statement denying rumours that club legend and honorary vice president Franco Baresi had died.
There had been some messages circulating on social media that Baresi had passed away at the age of 66.
He had revealed in August 2025 that he underwent surgery to remove a pulmonary nodule and had begun a course of immunotherapy.
On Wednesday evening, some rumours began to go around social media claiming that the former defender had died, and they became so frequent that the club felt it needed to take action.
Milan deny Baresi rumours
“AC Milan denies the false reports concerning Franco Baresi that have begun circulating in recent minutes,” read the statement.
“Franco is going through a difficult and delicate time, and the Club stands firmly alongside him and his family. We urge everyone to respect their privacy and refrain from spreading entirely unfounded information.”
AC Milan smentisce le false notizie circolate in questi minuti riguardanti Franco Baresi.
Franco sta affrontando un momento delicato e il Club gli è accanto con affetto, così come alla sua famiglia.
Invitiamo tutti a rispettare la sua privacy e a non contribuire alla diffusione…— AC Milan (@acmilan) July 29, 2026
Baresi’s career is truly that of a one-club man, coming up through the youth academy to play only for the Rossoneri from 1977 until his retirement in 1997.
That involved playing 716 competitive games, scoring 33 goals and providing 24 assists, winning three Champions League trophies, six Serie A titles, two Intercontinental Cups, three European Supercups and the Supercoppa Italiana four times.
As of October 2020, he has been honorary vice president of Milan, after taking other roles including as a coach in their youth academy.
