New AC Milan head coach Ruben Amorim has pledged to uphold the enduring legacy of club icon Franco Baresi as he begins the delicate task of restoring the Rossoneri to the upper echelons of Italian and European football.
The Portuguese tactician, who returned to the dugout after his January dismissal by Manchester United, spoke with quiet resolve in Perth on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday’s high-stakes friendly against bitter rivals Inter Milan. The match forms part of the “Calcio Italiano” festival, a week-long showcase of Italian clubs on Australian soil.
Baresi, the legendary defender who captained Milan through their golden years of the 1980s and 1990s, passed away last week. His death has cast a solemn shadow over the club’s pre-season programme. Amorim made clear that the values Baresi embodied collective responsibility, defensive steel and unwavering loyalty to the badge would guide his approach.
“When you talk with all the staff about Franco, you see the tears in their eyes,” Amorim told reporters. “Franco was all about the team. The team is the most important thing in our club. I will not promise results, but I can promise that I will continue the legacy of Franco.”
The 41-year-old’s first competitive outing in charge ended in a 2-2 draw with Celtic in Glasgow last month. That result offered early evidence of organisation but also underlined the work still required. Milan’s immediate target is a top-four finish in Serie A after the side missed out on Champions League qualification on the final day of last season, an outcome that left supporters frustrated and the hierarchy under pressure.
Amorim’s arrival coincides with the retention of Luka Modric. The Croatian midfield maestro, who turns 41 in September, agreed a one year contract extension and is expected to feature against Inter after representing his country at a fifth World Cup. Croatia’s exit in the last 32 at the hands of Portugal did little to diminish Modric’s stature. Amorim expressed satisfaction at securing his services.
“We did a lot to get him back at least for one more year,” the coach said. “I’m really pleased with him and he is ready to play some minutes tomorrow.”
The Perth encounter carries extra emotional weight as Milan’s first match since Baresi’s death. For a club steeped in history, the occasion demands more than mere technical preparation. Amorim stressed the importance of maintaining group cohesion when adversity arrives.
“I feel that the group is really together,” he noted. “The important thing is to continue with this spirit when things become difficult. In this club you need to win every game, so we need to keep that spirit all season.”
Inter, managed by Cristian Chivu, arrive in buoyant mood after defeating Manchester City on penalties in Hong Kong. The Nerazzurri will remain in Perth to face Juventus on Saturday, the same day Milan travel to Jakarta for a friendly against Chelsea. Juventus close the Australian series against Serie B side Palermo on 11 August.
Chivu voiced support for greater exposure of Serie A in new markets. “What I suggest is playing it at the start of the season,” he said of the possibility of official league fixtures in Perth. “We should start promoting Italian football more, especially in this part of the world.”
The festival itself emerged after an earlier plan for a Serie A match between Milan and Como in Perth was abandoned due to sanctions from the Asian Football Confederation. Organisers have nevertheless succeeded in assembling three of Italy’s most storied clubs for a rare southern hemisphere showcase.
For Amorim, the challenge extends beyond these friendlies. Manchester United’s decision to part ways with him in mid-season left questions about his methods and man-management. At Milan he inherits a squad that still contains quality but has lacked consistency. The presence of Modric offers experience and leadership; the memory of Baresi supplies a powerful cultural reference point.
Whether the Portuguese can translate those assets into a sustained challenge for silverware remains to be seen. What is already evident is his determination to root the project in the club’s deepest traditions. In Perth, under the Australian winter sun, the first public steps of that journey begin against the oldest rivals. The result will matter less than the manner and the message. For AC Milan, the spirit of Baresi is not merely remembered, it is now the stated foundation of the new era.
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