AC Milan secured a 2-0 victory over Venezia at San Siro Friday night, but the victory was far more than three points in Serie A's second matchday. The emotional evening marked Rafael Leao's farewell as he prepared to depart for Galatasaray, featured a solemn tribute to Franco Baresi who passed away on July 31, and witnessed Gonçalo Ramos finally break his scoring drought with his first goal in Rossoneri colors.
Why This Matters:
• Leao's €45M exit reshapes Milan's attacking roster mid-season, with Galatasaray securing the Portuguese winger for €10-12M annually through 2030.
• Baresi's passing on July 31 prompted the club to honor the late legend at their first home match nearly one month later, reminding fans of the captain who influenced the club for 20 years.
• New coach Ruben Amorim now sits atop Serie A with 6 points from 2 matches, implementing his trademark 3-4-3 pressing system.
• Club-record signing Ramos finally delivered after a wasteful performance, netting the opener in the 69th minute.
A Night of Mixed Emotions at San Siro
The August 28 match, nearly one month after Baresi's death, marked the first home game since the club legend's passing. Before kickoff, the Rossoneri paid homage to their eternal captain in a ceremony that left few eyes dry. An enormous number 6 shirt was laid out at the center of the pitch, while the Curva Sud unfurled a banner reading "Franco Baresi: immortal legend, inimitable flag that will never stop waving. Goodbye, captain." Stadium announcer Germano Lanzoni called Baresi's name three times after reading the lineups, each repetition echoed by the entire stadium before dissolving into sustained applause.
Baresi's son Gianandrea placed a number 6 shirt on his father's customary seat in the VIP section, a gesture that overwhelmed Daniele Massaro, Baresi's former teammate with both Milan and the Italian national team, who was seen sobbing with his hand pressed to his chest. The stadium screens displayed archival footage of the Kaiser speaking about his love for the club, the fans, and the cathedral of Italian football itself. Milan will wear a commemorative patch reading "6 per sempre" (6 forever) throughout the 2026-27 season.
Baresi, who spent his entire 20-year career with the Rossoneri and captained the side for 15 seasons, won 3 European Cups and 6 Serie A titles. His number 6 jersey had already been retired by the club. His last public appearance came in February 2026 when he carried the Olympic torch for the Milano-Cortina Winter Games alongside Giuseppe Bergomi—just five months before his passing.
Leao's Tearful Goodbye
Seated in the stands instead of on the pitch, Rafael Leao watched his soon-to-be-former teammates from the Tribune, visibly emotional. With his transfer finalized Friday afternoon, the club and player agreed he would not feature in the matchday squad. The 27-year-old Portuguese winger confirmed his decision Friday to join Galatasaray over Aston Villa, opting for a €10-12M net annual salary in Turkey rather than Villa's €7.5M offer.
Speaking to Sky Italia, Leao admitted the departure was wrenching. "I cried a lot. It's a difficult moment. I said goodbye to my teammates after seven years together. The club always helped me, helped me grow, and representing a great club like Milan made me understand what the highest level is. The time has come to say goodbye. I would have liked to say farewell in another way, maybe still being there on the pitch one more time in front of the fans, who helped me so much, especially in the bad moments. I'll be in the history of the club because I know what I did here. I'll carry in my heart all those who helped me—I can only say thank you."
He clarified that his love for Milan remains intact. "It's not a love that ended, because the love I have for Milan will never end. I'll watch from afar. The team is top level, with a great coach. We were together for a short time, but Amorim is very good, decisive, and can help Milan achieve important things."
The deal, confirmed by transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano with his signature "here we go," sees Milan receive €45M (€43M guaranteed plus €2M in bonuses), along with a 20% sell-on clause for any future transfer. Leao will sign a contract through 2030 with the Turkish giants, joining a growing colony of Serie A exiles in Turkey that includes Dusan Vlahovic (Besiktas) and Romelu Lukaku (Fenerbahce). He is scheduled to travel to Istanbul Saturday to finalize the move with medical exams and paperwork.
Ramos Finally Delivers
The match itself was a test of patience for Milan's summer signing, Gonçalo Ramos, who squandered at least six clear chances before finally converting in the 69th minute. The Portuguese striker, who arrived in a high-profile transfer, fired directly at Venezia goalkeeper Filip Stankovic when clean through in the 12th minute, then failed to connect from close range in the 37th.
The second half brought more frustration. Yunus Musah struck the crossbar from inside the six-yard box in the 55th minute after a defensive mishap, and Ramos continued to misfire with shots either too central or poorly struck. His redemption arrived courtesy of substitute Alexis Saelemaekers, who slipped a perfectly weighted through ball behind Venezia's backline. Ramos controlled and finished with a left-footed diagonal that beat Stankovic at the far post.
"It's a beautiful sensation, but the important thing is the victory," Ramos told DAZN afterward. "I'm happy, but I should have scored earlier. When I have so many chances, I usually score more than one goal. I think you're already seeing our mentality—we want to have fun, play football, but win every match. It's easy to be here, not just for the Portuguese on the team, but also for my other teammates."
The insurance goal came in the 89th minute via an unfortunate own goal. Saelemaekers again provided the spark with a through ball to Swiss midfielder Ardon Jashari, whose shot was saved by Stankovic but ricocheted off defender Redouane Halhal and into the net.
Amorim's Tactical Imprint Takes Shape
Ruben Amorim, appointed Milan head coach on June 16 with a contract through 2029, now sits atop Serie A with maximum points after two matches, following a 2-1 road win over Torino in the season opener. The former Sporting CP boss is rapidly implementing his signature 3-4-3 system, built around aggressive pressing, rapid vertical transitions, and dynamic wing-back play.
Against Venezia, Milan registered 16 shots (5 on target), dominating possession and territory despite the visitors creating dangerous counter-attacking moments. Evans Adams and Marcus Yeboah both wasted promising opportunities for the Lagunari in the first half, while Hainaut fired wide from a good position in the 48th minute. Venezia defender Franjić was substituted before halftime with a suspected shoulder dislocation.
Giovanni Stroppa, Venezia's coach and a former Milan player and youth team manager, watched his side fall to 0 points from 2 matches despite generating enough chances to have earned at least a draw. The visitors had also failed to convert opportunities in their opening-day defeat to Lecce.
What This Means for Rossineri Fans
Milan's victory, while workmanlike, demonstrated resilience on a night charged with emotion. Amorim's early success suggests the Portuguese tactician's modern, possession-based philosophy is already taking root, though the profligacy in front of goal—16 shots to produce 2 goals—indicates work remains.
Leao's departure leaves a significant void on the left flank, where the winger contributed crucial goals and creativity during his seven-year tenure. The club will likely deploy Saelemaekers or reconfigure the attacking trident to compensate, with Ramos now clearly positioned as the focal point in the number 9 role.
For supporters, the Baresi tribute offered a moment of collective mourning and memory. The "6 per sempre" patch will serve as a season-long reminder of the values Baresi embodied: loyalty, excellence, and an unbreakable bond between player and club.
Milan will carry this emotional momentum into their next fixture, with Amorim's squad also set to face upcoming Europa League group stage matches. The coach's challenge now is to maintain domestic form while integrating his tactical vision across competitions—and doing so without one of the most talented attackers in Serie A history.
