Savicevic blames journalists for Baresi never winning the Ballon d’Or.

Dejan Savicevic expressed his disbelief that Franco Baresi was never awarded the Ballon d'Or, attributing the responsibility to journalists who did not vote for him. The former player, who played a significant role in the history of AC Milan, made these statements in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, where he spoke about his admiration for the legendary captain of the Milan team, who recently passed away at the age of 66.

Savicevic stated: “He had football running through his veins, how could they not give him the Ballon d'Or?” Tributes to Baresi continue to pour in, and icons of Milan from various generations will be present at his funeral, scheduled for this Tuesday in the city of Milan. Remembering Baresi, Savicevic described him as “a great person, a great man. He was an excellent teammate and a wonderful player. He understood everything and had an incredible vision of the game.”

The former athlete revealed that the atmosphere at San Siro, where fans sang “One captain, there is only one captain,” was magical and inspiring. Savicevic also recalled the moment he faced Baresi in the European Cup final in 1988, remembering his reputation as a highly respected defender both at Red Star and in Yugoslavia. The comparison between Baresi and Franz Beckenbauer was inevitable, with Savicevic suggesting that the former could even be considered superior. “Baresi was like him. He and Paolo Maldini were the greatest in the world. Franco won a lot and could have won even more,” he stated.

Savicevic lamented the lack of recognition for Baresi, who is often mentioned among the best players to never win the Ballon d'Or. “How could Baresi not have been awarded the Ballon d'Or? That's your fault,” he joked, referring to journalists. He clarified that many Dutch players from the Milan team received the award, while Baresi remained in the background. “With all due respect to Rijkaard, we're talking about a good midfielder, but Baresi was something more. He was a phenomenon. Don't talk to me about the Ballon d'Or, that annoys me,” he added.

Savicevic highlighted that only three defenders have won the Ballon d'Or: Beckenbauer, Matthias Sammer, and Fabio Cannavaro. “But Franco Baresi, one of the greatest defenders in the history of football, never had that honor,” he continued, emphasizing that his quality and charisma made him unique.

Finally, Savicevic recalled his personal relationship with Baresi, who supported him during difficult times in his career. “He helped everyone, I always felt close to him. He had a special way of encouraging, saying: 'Where do you want to go? We're here at Milan, where could you be better?'” These words reveal not only the friendship between them but also the impact Baresi had on the lives of many players.