Gianni Rivera, the legendary AC Milan striker, spoke about Franco Baresi in today’s edition of Gazzetta dello Sport.
Rivera is a well-known name in the Milan environment, being one of the top goalscorers in the club’s history (third with 164 goals). In the process, he also clinched three Scudetti and two European cups, including the Scudetto which gave the Rossoneri their star.
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Speaking of that specific Scudetto, he won it together with Baresi in 1979, when the centre-back was at the beginning of his long Milan career. In other words, the two legends knew each other very well and Riveri was quick to advocate for Baresi when he came through the ranks.
In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport this morning, Riveri shared his thoughts on Baresi’s rise to the top and what made him so special. Everyone could tell that he would be crucial from the get-go, but perhaps he even exceeded those expectations.
On his relationship with Baresi…
“Baresi used to address me formally. So I said: ‘Look, I’m your teammate, not your boss. I’m just your captain’. Our wonderful Piscinin is gone…”
Why Piscinin? They say Inter rejected him because he was too young. “He’s a piscinin,” they said…
“Oh, really? Luckily, Italo Galbiati brought him to Milan. No, wait, it was the masseur Paolo Mariconti who called him Piscinin. He was a very sweet second father to Franco.”
And you “christened” him in Verona…
“Well, I was playing, I was 34. Liedholm gave him his debut. Turone was suspended and Liedholm took him aside and simply said: ‘Now you play.’ And he played very well, without problems, confident, head held high.”
Wasn’t he excited? Not even 18, first match for Milan. Come on…
“He was definitely excited. The first time is beautiful and incredible, but also a little difficult. These are special moments. He and I made our debuts very young, and we overcame them well.”
Franco would later say, “Albertosi didn’t trust me. He always told me to be careful. I was confused, I wanted to talk back, even rudely. But how could I?”
“And he was right. Franco was a serious and polite guy. And above all, kind and respectful.”
And what did Rivera think?
“Franco was destined for the job. What he did on the pitch was simple. He had the right pace, the speed, and the determination. I said he would become the libero of the future.”
The newspapers wrote: if Rivera, who’s usually not very gentle with young players, says so…
“I wasn’t the only one who said it. It was clear right away that he was a real talent and that he would go a long way. The following year, after Turone was sold, Liedholm had thought of Bigon as a libero and moved him back.
“In the summer friendlies, Albertino played the first half and Baresi the second. Franco was always the best, and Liedholm, who was crazy about the kid, said to him: ‘Good, now you always play.'”
And together you won the star-studded Scudetto…
“Yes, the tenth, a very beautiful story. Franco was at the beginning of his Milan career. I was at the end of mine. An important and also difficult Scudetto.”
The attack with Novellino, Antonelli, and Chiodi wasn’t a bomb. No?
“But we won the star. And we deserved it. We fought until the end against Ilario Castagner’s Perugia, who had never lost in the league.”
Baresi earned 12 million lire in 1979. Rivera also proposed a Scudetto bonus for him: 50 million.
“Franco was a starter, a well-deserved prize. He had gotten his driving license and bought a car.”
A grey Golf, 9 million…
“Different times, different needs, different players.”
Rivera, as captain, lifts the European Cup in Madrid. Baresi, as captain, lifts the European Cup in Barcelona 20 years later.
“I was at Camp Nou and I felt so much emotion. Great AC Milan. Great Baresi.”
You won the Ballon d’Or. Franco finished second and third a couple of times. An injustice?
“I think so. I don’t know the criteria back then, but he was the greatest defender ever in Italy.”
Football historians say there’s no player who better embodies the state of mind called AC Milan. Do you agree?
“Franco was the heart and soul of AC Milan. He was born at Milan and stayed there forever. He could have left; Sampdoria and Juve had asked for it. But he stayed. He went to Serie B, became the captain and the symbol.”
Baresi 6 forever…
“His home was Milanello, he was the symbol of many AC Milan teams. He suffered and cried, but he never gave up. Then he won a lot. The fans loved him and still love him. They wrote that he was the past, the present, and the future.
“I hope that in the future, players and men like him can emerge, with his character, his determination, his affection for the club, for the shirt. In this respect, our great Piscinin was unique.”
“Speaking of that specific Scudetto, he won it together with Baresi in 1979, when the centre-back was at the beginning of his long Milan career. In other words, the two legends knew each other very well and Riveri was quick to advocate for Baresi when he came through the ranks.”
Riveri?
“In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport this morning, Riveri shared his thoughts on Baresi’s rise to the top and what made him so special. Everyone could tell that he would be crucial from the get-go, but perhaps he even exceeded those expectations.”
Riveri?
I love hearing these stories from before my time from the Milan legnwds