Sebastiano Rossi Recalls What Made Baresi Great, ‘How Did He Do Those Things?’

FolioPitch.com – 03 August 2026 | Sebastiano Rossi, a former goalkeeper for AC Milan, has paid tribute to his dear friend and mentor, Franco Baresi, who passed away recently. Baresi is widely regarded as the most iconic player in Milan’s history, having spent 20 seasons with the club, captaining the side for 15 of them and winning numerous trophies.

Rossi, who spent 12 seasons at Milan, has spoken about the impact Baresi had on his career and personal life. ‘He was a dear and close friend of mine, my mentor, a kind-hearted man, who was close to me, an idol, an example,’ Rossi said in an interview. ‘The Captain, the great Captain Franco. It sounds like rhetorical words, but believe me, it’s true. He was the heart of AC Milan.’

Rossi recalls how Baresi was always humble, sweet, and attentive, and how he conveyed serenity and had a smile that could light up any room. ‘He made light of everything. Sometimes you couldn’t understand, he seemed cold and detached. Instead, he made difficult things simple,’ Rossi said.

Rossi also spoke about how Baresi was the leader of the defense and how he never raised his voice, but instead used a look or a glance to get his teammates to adjust their positions. ‘A look, a glance, was enough. He never shouted, except to call and adjust some positions. But there was no need, we were all on autopilot,’ Rossi said.

Rossi also recalled how Baresi was always the first to arrive at training sessions and how he worked hard and had fun, even when he was on the bench. ‘We always played to win, and I didn’t play to concede, even at Milanello. There wasn’t a session where one of us didn’t come away with a bruise or a cut: that’s how it worked, and it was wonderful,’ Rossi said.

Despite their close friendship, Rossi never saw Baresi get into a fight, either with his teammates or opponents. ‘At most, he’d argue because they complained about his raised arm. He’d smile: ‘And what do I do? I can’t cut it off’, Rossi said.

Rossi also spoke about how Baresi was always a leader, even on the pitch. ‘The captain was in the lead, and I was right behind him. You never know. He protected me, and I protected him. On the pitch and in front of goal. No one was supposed to touch my captain,’ Rossi said.

As the tributes continue to pour in for Baresi, Rossi’s words serve as a reminder of the impact he had on those who knew him. ‘Sebastiano Rossi recalls what made Baresi great, How did he do those things?’ is a question that many will be asking for years to come.