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Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni has broken his silence on allegations that he directed racist insults at Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. during a February Champions League match. The player has called out Kylian Mbappe for calling him racist and has firmly denied any racist or homophobic remarks.
Prestianni has also claimed that he was punished without proof, as the Benfica star was ruled out for the second leg, which resulted in their elimination from the competition. He also stated that he is grateful for the club and its support towards him.
Benfica’s Prestianni slams Mbappe over Vinicius racism allegations in heated UCL clash vs Real Madrid
In an interview with Argentine broadcaster Telefe, the 20-year-old Argentine said the accusations "hurt" him deeply, as they did not reflect his character or what actually happened on the pitch.
Prestianni explained that the confrontation arose from misinterpreted Argentinian slang commonly used as insults, such as "maricón" or "cagón," which he insisted carried no racial intent. He stated that having Black teammates with whom he had never had issues and expressed frustration that Mbappé called him a "f**king racist" in an attempt to provoke him during the game. He said:
"Mbappé calling me 'f**king racist?' You're insulting someone by calling them racist when I never have been and never will be.”
Prestianni added:
"Obviously, he was trying to get under my skin during the match. I never wanted to react, and I won’t react."
The incident, which reportedly involved Prestianni covering his mouth with his shirt, led to a UEFA investigation, a provisional suspension, and his absence from the second leg against the Spanish giants. Meanwhile, club head coach Jose Mourinho had earlier stated that he will not treat Prestianni the same if he is found guilty of racism.
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