Gianluca Prestianni Responds to Harsh Criticism and Threats Over Incident Involving Vinícius Jr.

The fallout from the explosive clash between Benfica and Real Madrid continues to dominate the headlines, as the verbal war between Gianluca Prestianni and Vinícius Júnior enters a new, more litigious phase. The young Argentine winger has officially broken his silence following the widespread accusations of racial abuse, using his social media platforms to issue a categorical denial.

The tension reached a boiling point shortly after Vinícius Júnior scored for the Spanish giants in the second half. Almost immediately, the Brazilian superstar approached the referee, Frenchman François Letexier, to report that he had been the target of a racial slur from Prestianni. The gravity of the accusation forced Letexier to activate the UEFA anti-racism protocol, leading to a several-minute suspension of play as officials evaluated the situation and attempted to calm the heated atmosphere at the Estádio da Luz.

However, the technology intended to clarify such incidents proved inconclusive. Television replays showed the exchange, but because Prestianni was covering his mouth with his jersey—a common tactic used by players to hide their words from lip-readers—VAR could not definitively confirm the slur. Despite the lack of visual evidence, the match reattained a fever pitch when play eventually resumed, leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of spectators across the globe.

Hours after the final whistle, Prestianni took to his official Instagram profile to defend his reputation. The Benfica man insisted that he has "never, under any circumstances," directed a racist expression toward Vinícius or anyone else. According to his statement, the Brazilian may have "misinterpreted" what was said in the "chaos and adrenaline" of a high-stakes Champions League playoff. He emphasized that such an attitude would go against his core values as a professional and a person.

Furthermore, Prestianni shifted the narrative by claiming he has become the victim of harassment. The Argentine alleged that he received several threats following the match, some of which he attributed to members of the Real Madrid squad.

The drama was amplified by the involvement of Kylian Mbappé. Broadcasters captured the French captain confronting Prestianni with visible intensity, signaling that the Argentine had allegedly repeated the slur multiple times. Mbappé’s stance was clear: he was standing in total solidarity with his teammate, reinforcing the "White House" unity that has defined Real Madrid’s response to this saga.

This creates a stark "he-said, she-said" scenario. On one side, the Real Madrid camp and Mbappé insist on the verbal abuse; on the other, Prestianni and Benfica maintain his absolute innocence.

Regardless of the final verdict, this controversy has reignited the global debate over the efficacy of UEFA’s protocols. While the temporary suspension of the match was a step forward in visibility, the difficulty of proving a verbal exchange in a split second of competitive intensity remains a massive hurdle. As UEFA’s investigation continues, the world waits to see if the "mask of the jersey" will continue to provide a shield for alleged misconduct on the pitch.