AC Milan has released a statement to confirm that club legend Franco Baresi is alive, following the spread of false rumors suggesting his death. The club denied the reports circulating online and urged the public to respect Baresi's privacy during what they described as a "difficult and delicate time" for him and his family.
The former defender, who played his entire career for AC Milan and later became honorary vice-president, was the subject of online tributes after Italian sports newspaper Tuttosport reportedly claimed he had passed away. These unverified claims led to widespread sharing of condolences, including by Italian deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini.
AC Milan's official statement emphasized the unfounded nature of the information and called for an end to its dissemination. "Franco is going through a difficult and delicate time, and the Club stands firmly alongside him and his family," the statement read.
Reports indicate that Baresi, 66, underwent surgery in August 2025 to remove a pulmonary nodule and has since been undergoing immunotherapy for cancer prevention. He is reportedly being monitored at the Humanitas hospital in Rozzano and is understood to have withdrawn from visiting Milan's pre-season training camp due to his health.
Baresi's last public appearance was as a torchbearer at the Winter Olympics' Opening Ceremony, an event he participated in alongside his friend and Inter Milan rival Beppe Bergomi. Throughout his playing career, Baresi captained AC Milan for 15 seasons, solidifying his reputation as one of the game's greatest defenders. He was a member of Italy's 1982 World Cup-winning squad, secured three European Cups, and was named Milan's Player of the Century in 1999.