Franco Baresi: 'AC Milan will be competitive this season'

AC Milan legend Franco Baresi is confident that the Rossoneri will be "competitive" this season despite the departure of a number of players.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva and Alessandro Nesta were among a host of players who left the Italian giants in the summer.

"I hope [Mattia] Di Sciglio will have a long career with Milan, while [Nigel] De Jong is a player with character and technique," Baresi told Milan Channel.

"The frontline is young and I hope they'll do well. [Alexandre] Pato should be back soon too.

"It's not easy to start again after all the players who have left, but Milan will be competitive this year as well."

Milan lost their opening game of the Serie A campaign 1-0 to Sampdoria at home, but bounced back with a 3-1 away victory over Bologna.