These are anxious hours for former defender Franco Baresi. The Milan legend underwent surgery in August last year to remove a nodule in his lung and is currently going through a very difficult period. His health condition is said to have worsened, to the point that former teammates such as Filippo Galli and even Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini expressed their condolences on the Internet for his passing, after this news had spread in several media and online portals.
But Baresi continues to fight and Milan has requested respect for the privacy of the club's honorary vice-president, publishing a denial on X: "AC Milan denies the false news that has been circulating in recent minutes regarding Franco Baresi. Franco is going through a delicate moment and the club is by his side with much love, as is his family. We invite everyone to respect his privacy and not contribute to the spread of information without any basis."
AC Milan smentisce le false notizie circulate in questi minuti riguardanti Franco Baresi.
— AC Milan (@acmilan) July 29, 2026
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 ea non contributare alla diffusione...
After the club's reaction, many messages and posts were deleted, but there are still hours of anxiety and waiting, with the hope that Baresi will win this extremely difficult battle. "Long live life," Baresi had written on social networks last November, just three months after the operation to remove the nodule. Words that had given hope, as in December he returned to the stands of "San Siro", where he was welcomed with a long applause from the entire stadium.
Another touching moment was when he carried the Olympic torch at the San Siro during the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games, together with another Milanese football icon, Beppe Bergomi. Recently, in an interview with La Stampa, he also commented on Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup, another disappointment for the 1982 world champion and Italy's captain in the 1994 World Cup. Now new news is expected, while anxiety remains great for a champion who has written the history of Milan and who enjoys the respect of all fans, regardless of the colors they support.
