AC Milan have been forced to release a statement confirming that one of their greatest ever players Franco Baresi is still alive, after online rumours suggested that he had passed away.
The former defender was a one-club man at the San Siro and was named honorary vice-president of Milan following his retirement.
But fans in Italy were prompted on Wednesday to share poignant tributes to the legend also known by the diminutive nickname ‘Piscinin’ on the pitch after sports newspaper Tuttosport claimed he had passed away.
Tributes were shared by supporters and luminaries alike, with Italy’s deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini among those who fell for the misinformation.
In a bid to shut down speculation, Milan stressed in the strongest possible terms that the news was untrue, and urged fans to consider the ‘difficult and delicate time’ their club legend and his family were going through.
‘AC Milan denies the false reports concerning Franco Baresi that have begun circulating in recent minutes,’ the club’s official statement read.
AC Milan were forced to deny that their club legend Franco Baresi had died on Wednesday
The six-time Serie A champion and World Cup winner made his most recent public appearance at the Winter Olympics’ Opening Ceremony
‘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.’
Baresi underwent lung surgery in August 2025 to remove a pulmonary nodule, with the 66-year-old then undergoing a course of cancer-prevention immunotherapy.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Baresi is currently being monitored at the Humanitas hospital in Rozzano, in the Milanese suburbs.
He is thought to have pulled out of visiting Milan’s pre-season training camp at Milanello earlier this month due to ill-health.
The six-time Serie A winner’s last public appearance came as a torchbearer ahead of this year’s Winter Olympics, with Baresi handing over the flame alongside his friend and Inter Milan rival Beppe Bergomi inside the San Siro – which played host to Games’ Opening Ceremony.
Baresi held the role of club captain for a staggering 15 seasons during his time in red and black, where he cemented his position as one of the greatest defenders in the history of the game.
A World Cup winner with Italy in 1982, he also won three European Cups, and in 1999 was voted Milan’s Player of the Century.
