Born in Travagliato, province of Brescia, Baresi was acquired by Inter as a youngster, and became a member of the team's youth system. He made his professional debut with the senior side in the Coppa Italia on 8 June 1977, in a 1–0 win over Juventus during the 1976–77 season, and made his Serie A debut the following season. He later went on to captain the Milan-based club from 1988 to 1992, and he spent a total of 16 seasons with Internazionale, playing a total of 559 matches (including 392 Serie A matches, 73 European matches, and 94 Coppa Italia matches) and scoring 13 goals (ten in Serie A, one in European matches, and two in the Coppa Italia). With Inter, he won two Serie A titles, two Italian Cups, an UEFA Cup, and the Supercoppa Italiana. After leaving Inter at the end of the 1991–92 season, Baresi also played for Modena in the Serie B for a couple of seasons before retiring in 1994, at the age of 36.