Salvatore Fresi (born 16 January 1973) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a centre-back or sweeper.

He joined Bologna in 2001, where he was able to play more frequently and recapture his previous form, and even scored 8 goals for the club; his performances gained him a place at the title-holders Juventus.

The following season, he only made one appearance for Juventus against Siena in the Coppa Italia, and he eventually left the club in 2004, going on loan to Perugia.

[5] Fresi did make 17 international appearances with the Italy national under-21 football team between 1994 and 1996, scoring one goal, and frequently captained the squad; he was a member of the team that won the 1996 UEFA European Under-21 Championship under Cesare Maldini, and even scored in the final penalty shoot-out victory over Spain.

His playing style, talent, character, leadership, composure in possession, and ability to create chances from the back with long balls that would meet the runs of the attackers initially led him to be compared to Franco Baresi in his youth.