Franco Baresi’s Death: There’s a Reason Behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Silence

The death of Franco Baresi has sparked unanimous condolences from the world of soccer and beyond, but it has inevitably affected the Milan community and many of its key figures the most. For this reason, Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s silence has left many fans at least perplexed; as noted by “SportMediaset” and “Fanpage,” among others, he has not paid tribute to the legendary Rossoneri captain. Further controversy arose when it became virtually certain that he would not attend the funeral, scheduled for 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 4, at the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio in Milan. But in the meantime, a possible explanation for his reasons has also emerged.

As reported by ‘MilanNews’, in fact, Ibrahimovic did not speak out publicly even at the time of Mino Raiola’s death—his personal agent, to whom he was bound by a relationship far deeper than mere professional ties. Nor did the Swede attend Silvio Berlusconi’s funeral, and—again, according to the Milan-based website—there is a very clear reason for this stance. In 2014, Ibra lost his older brother Sapko, who died after a grueling battle with leukemia. This was a deeply painful and personal experience that reportedly led him to develop a delicate and controversial approach to dealing with grief. This is not meant to show disrespect to Baresi or, more broadly, to Milan itself.

It must be said that Ibrahimovic’s silence comes amid an already turbulent situation for the Swedish executive, who has long been in the crosshairs of the Rossoneri fans. Milan fans have not forgiven him for the team’s failure to qualify for the Champions League last season—which culminated in a 2-1 loss to Cagliari at San Siro on the final matchday—and the ensuing upheaval within the club that led to Allegri’s dismissal and the departures of Furlani, Tare, and Moncada. At that juncture, Ibrahimovic remained the sole survivor of the old management structure, fueling further discontent.

The controversy surrounding him had also reignited during the 2026 World Cup, where the Swede served as a commentator for “Fox Sports” in the United States, drawing harsh criticism even from the “New York Times.” The American newspaper had written in no uncertain terms that “without Zlatan, the show would be better,” pointing out that the former striker seemed to lack sufficient knowledge of many of the teams and players involved in the competition. Not exactly a shining example for someone who, in the meantime, was supposed to be personally overseeing Milan’s rebuilding efforts.

Ibrahimovic’s silence stands out even more when compared to the avalanche of messages and tributes pouring in from every corner of the soccer world to honor Baresi. Among the most touching was that of George Weah, who had spent the final years of his career at Milan alongside the Rossoneri captain: “I am saddened by the news of the death of my former Milan teammate and big brother, Franco Baresi. His guidance was crucial in helping me settle in. Baresi will be remembered as one of the greatest defenders in history.” Words of great affection also came from Dejan Savicevic, who told *La Gazzetta dello Sport*: “I have a lump in my throat—a weight I can’t even describe. He was my captain, my great captain. But he was Milan; there has never been—and there will never be—anyone like him.”

Adriano Galliani was no less moved, expressing his grief on social media with a few meaningful words: “You’ve joined your President. 6 forever,” accompanying the message with a photo showing Berlusconi, Baresi, and Fabio Capello together. A direct reference to the eternal bond with Silvio Berlusconi, the man who, alongside Baresi, had built the fortunes of the great Milan of the 1980s and 1990s.

Amid this outpouring of grief, the Rossoneri first team also wanted to pay tribute to the legend, even while on the other side of the world for their preseason tour in Australia. Coach Ruben Amorim and defender Matteo Gabbia laid a wreath at the foot of the mural dedicated to Baresi in Perth, with Gabbia telling ‘Sky Sport’: “We’re sorry we couldn’t attend the funeral; this tribute was the least we could do.” This decision, however, divided the fan base, with some Rossoneri supporters having preferred a stronger and more direct gesture—even if it meant canceling the Australian tour.