Paul Gascoigne... we would love to find another one! AC Milan legend Franco Baresi goes hunting for next Gazza up north

• AC Milan legend Franco Baresi spoke to Sportsmail up in Blyth
• The former Italy defender is on the hunt for the new Paul Gascoigne
• Baresi was full of praise for the troubled Gascoigne during a trip to England to launch AC Milan's summer football camps 

By Craig Hope for MailOnline

Published: 08:46 EST, 11 June 2015 | Updated: 02:42 EST, 12 June 2015

Franco Baresi smiles at mention of Paul Gascoigne - 'fantastico' needs no translation. It was 25 years ago that the England midfielder illuminated Italia 90.

No English player in a quarter of a century since has come close to matching Gazza's skill, charisma, audacity and character. Baresi – the former captain of Italy and AC Milan - says that stars such as Gascoigne are born, not coached.

He is right, of course, but the search for such a prodigious talent is never-ending. That is why Baresi is here, sat talking to Sportsmail in a weathered dugout at Blyth Town FC in Gascoigne's native North-East.

Italy legend Franco Baresi was effusive in his praise for former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne 

Gascoigne - pictured during the World Cup semi-final against West Germany - was superb at Italia 90

Baresi sat down with Sportsmail's Craig Hope in a weathered dugout at Blyth Town FC 

Baresi was in the north east during to launch one of AC Milan's summer camp in the region

Franco Baresi: His AC Milan legacy and summer training camps

Moments earlier, the Milan legend – so good and so revered that the club retired his No 6 jersey – enjoys a kickabout with two young Geordies. One of them flicks the ball over his own head and controls it on the other side, Baresi is impressed. Perhaps one day he'll win an invite to Milan. For this July sees the launch of the club's summer camps in the region, complete with Italian coaches who will pick the best boys for a trip to Italy.

Is there, then, another Gascoigne out there? 'Players like Gascoigne are born once every 20 years, if you are lucky,' says Baresi, who remembers fondly the Englishman's arrival in Serie A with Lazio two years after his World Cup breakthrough.

'But we would love to find another Paul Gascoigne. He was special. He was a fantastic player, he had so much quality. When he had the ball you couldn't get it off him. 

'Everybody from Lazio loved him – and they still do. He was a very funny guy, very different. But if you were with or against him, you loved him all the same.

'He was crazy at times, but people like these type of players. They are unique.' It was at the World Cup in 1990 that both Baresi and Gascoigne suffered semi-final heartache. England, of course, were eliminated by eventual champions West Germany following a penalty shootout in Turin, Gascoigne having earlier collected the booking which would have ruled him out of the final.

In Naples, meanwhile, Baresi's host nation were beaten on penalties by Diego Maradona's Argentina. 

'AC Milan were the best team in the world at that time. In such a short space of time we won so much. Italian football was so strong and we were expected to win the World Cup,' reflects the 55-year-old former defender.

The abiding image of Gascoigne at Italia 90 were his tears, but he later flourished at Lazio 

Gascoigne - here skipping beyond Roma defenders - was mesmeric in midfield while at Lazio 

Back in north England, Baresi was on the hunt for the next Gazza as AC Milan spread their wings 

'We should have made the final. We were at home and it was a big chance. To lose on penalties was so painful, that Italy team was very good. Everybody was waiting for us to make the final.' 

Baresi scored the opening spot-kick against Argentina. He lashed it home with such ferocity that ITV co-commentator Trevor Francis remarked: 'It's a good job the net was there because that could have killed one of the photographers'.

Four years later, however, Baresi was the fall guy, blazing over the crossbar the first-ever penalty to be taken in a shootout in a World Cup final. The Italians lost to Brazil in Pasadena's Rose Bowl in California.

'Ah, the penalty. Everyone knows about the penalty,' he laughs.

'But it is part of the sport. At the time, I was devastated. But it was actually one of the best games I ever played for the national team. I have no regrets.' 

Baresi - pictured crunching into Inter Milan's Paul Ince - was known for his tough tackling at AC Milan

Baresi pictured with Arsenal's John Hartson during a European Super Cup tie at Highbury in 1995

Baresi kicks a ball about with some youngsters during his trip to the north east this summer 

Baresi retired from international football later that year with 82 caps. He called time on 20 years at the San Siro in 1997 and now works as an ambassador for the club with whom he won three European Cups and six Serie A titles.

It was he who helped identify the North-East of England as a location for the summer camps.

'I played here with AC Milan Glorie (veterans team) for Steve Harper's testimonial two years ago and the atmosphere inside St James' Park was incredible,' he says.

'I know all about the talent from this region. Gascoigne, Peter Beardsley, Chris Waddle and Bryan Robson were also at the World Cup in 1990. And, of course, Sir Bobby Robson. He is a legend, an amazing person.

'So we know what football means here. I like the mood and passion of the people.

'And who knows? Maybe 10 years down the line we will see an Englishman playing for AC Milan.' We can only hope he is as good as Gascoigne.

* For more information about the AC Milan soccer schools, see www.azzurri-sportsmanagement.com

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