Milan to Honor Franco Baresi with Tribute; Legends to Attend Funeral

AC Milan is set to commemorate their legendary captain, Franco Baresi, with a special tribute before their friendly match against Inter. The club will also honor Baresi, who passed away over the weekend at the age of 66 after a lifetime dedicated to a single club. His funeral is scheduled for Tuesday.

While the entire squad and coaching staff would normally attend such a service, they are currently in Australia for their pre-season tour. Despite this geographical challenge, Milan will ensure Baresi is remembered.

The funeral service will take place on Tuesday, August 4th, at 11:00 AM local time at the Sant’Ambrogio Basilica in Milan. A notable gathering of footballing greats is expected, including Milan President Paolo Scaroni, owner Gerry Cardinale, CEO Massimo Calvelli, and former teammates such as Paolo Maldini, Marco van Basten, Dejan Savicevic, Demetrio Albertini, Sebastiano Rossi, Gianluca Zambrotta, Daniele Massaro, Alberico Evani, Roberto Donadoni, and Pietro Paolo Virdis. Representatives from other clubs like Inter, Barcelona, and Real Madrid are also anticipated to send delegations. The ceremony will be broadcast live on the Italian television channel Rete 4.

Speculation on social media has arisen regarding Zlatan Ibrahimović's silence and absence from the funeral arrangements. However, it's understood that following the loss of his brother Sapko to leukemia in 2014, Ibrahimović has chosen to grieve privately, expressing his emotions only in person with his closest loved ones. This personal approach to grief has been evident in his past reactions to the passing of his long-time agent Mino Raiola and former Milan President Silvio Berlusconi, even when he was present by their hospital beds.

The Milan team currently in Perth will also pay their respects to Baresi. They will wear black armbands and observe a minute of silence before their match against Inter. Additionally, a video montage showcasing Baresi's greatest achievements will be displayed at the stadium. The fans in the stands are also planning a special choreography to honor their "eternal captain."