Baresi funeral sees Milan fans pay tribute, but also jeer patron Cardinale
Quick summary
Milan fans paid tribute to late club legend Franco Baresi at his funeral, but also directed jeers at owner Gerry Cardinale, reflecting ongoing tension between the supporters and the ownership.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceThere were emotional scenes as the fans and club legends said goodbye at Franco Baresi’s funeral, but also some jeers aimed at current patron Gerry Cardinale.
The iconic captain died last week at the age of 66 , he had been receiving treatment after announcing pulmonary nodules had been found in August 2025.
His funeral was held this morning at the Basilica Sant’Ambrogio in Milan and it was televised on Rete 4 in Italy, attended by former teammates, colleagues and friends.
Baresi given special Milan send-off MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 04: Supporters of AC Milan show a banner during the Franco Baresi’s funeral ceremony at Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio on August 04, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images) Thousands of fans lined the streets , turning the area around the church into a Curva Sud of San Siro, complete with huge flags, banners, fireworks and chants.
‘Legend, immortal, inimitable flag that will never stop waving. Ciao Captain,’ read a large sign.
MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 04: Paolo Maldini and his wife Adriana Fossa attend the Franco Baresi’s funeral ceremony at Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio on August 04, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images) It was emotional to hear the supporters chant Baresi’s name and the songs that had echoed around the arena whenever he took to the pitch, this time giving their final salute.
You’ll Never Walk Alone
(via @AntoVitiello ) pic.twitter.com/oyWxaQSUYy
— MilanNews.it (@MilanNewsit) August 4, 2026
However, the stadium atmosphere spilled out a little too much when RedBird patron and Milan owner Cardinale arrived, then after the funeral emerged from the basilica and spoke to reporters.
MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 04: Daniele Massaro and Dejan Savićević attend Franco Baresi’s funeral ceremony at Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio on August 04, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images) He was drowned out by loud jeers from some of the supporters, along with the usual calls for the American to sell up and leave the Rossoneri.
I fischi della Curva Sud hanno accolto la dirigenza del Milan davanti alla basilica di Sant’Ambrogio, a Milano, prima dei funerali di Franco Baresi. Il presidente Paolo Scaroni ha attraversato la piazza tra urla e contestazioni, seguito da Gerry Cardinale, proprietario del club… pic.twitter.com/RlNrlASv2L
— La Stampa (@LaStampa) August 4, 2026
It was not the ideal way to say goodbye to Baresi, who had after all still been the honorary vice president of AC Milan, working in Cardinale’s tenure.
There were also audible jeers for current President Paolo Scaroni, and Mayor of Milan Giuseppe Sala.
Source attribution: this article content is based on the linked publisher feed/source. Chance adds independent soccer context, impact analysis, entity links, and related news.
What happened
Hundreds of Milan supporters gathered to honor the passing of club icon Franco Baresi, one of the greatest defenders in football history. While the atmosphere was largely one of mourning and celebration of Baresi's legacy, fans also used the occasion to express frustration with owner Gerry Cardinale, booing and jeering the American patron. The dual nature of the event highlights the disconnect between Cardinale's ownership direction and the passionate Milan fanbase, which has grown increasingly vocal about concerns over the club's trajectory under his leadership.
Chance analysis
While primarily a somber occasion, the jeers directed at Cardinale during Baresi's funeral underscore persistent and significant fan dissatisfaction with Milan's ownership. For a prediction system, this reinforces existing sentiment around an unstable off-field environment at Milan, which could influence squad morale and long-term project confidence. However, the immediate on-field impact is likely minimal as this is a fan/ownership narrative rather than a sporting one.
No direct sporting impact, but reinforces the narrative of fan discontent with Milan's ownership, which could indirectly affect club atmosphere and morale over time.
This is a fan/ownership news story with no direct impact on upcoming match outcomes, but it confirms ongoing supporter unrest toward Cardinale's stewardship of Milan.