Prestianni Spills: 'No Monkey Business – Just Called Vini a Coward!'
Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni has defended himself against racism claims from Vinicius Junior, insisting he used non-racial slurs like 'cagón' and 'maricón' which are 'normal' Argentine banter. He hit back at Kylian Mbappé for calling him racist and revealed the emotional toll on his family. With UEFA's probe ongoing, a minimum 10-match ban looms under their anti-insult rules.
Benfica Winger's Cheeky Defence in Racism Row
Imagine scoring a belter, then getting hauled before the beaks for something you reckon was just pitch-side banter. That's the pickle Gianluca Prestianni finds himself in after his dust-up with Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior during the Champions League last-16 clash back in February.
The Benfica youngster netted a cracker early doors, but celebrations turned sour when Vini Jr paused the game, pointing the finger at Prestianni for allegedly calling him a 'monkey' – the Spanish 'mono'. With his shirt over his mouth, no lip-readers could confirm it, but UEFA slapped a provisional one-match ban on the Argentine, sidelining him for the Bernabéu return leg.
Benfica's squad, gaffer and club rallied round him like a proper wall of defence, but the world's football family mostly backed Vini amid his ongoing battles with racist abuse.
'Cagón and Maricón – Normal Banter for Us Argentines!'
Now, in his first proper chinwag since – chatting to Telefe's Sofi Martínez – Prestianni's laid it all out, no holds barred. He insists it wasn't racist at all: 'I called him cagón (coward) and maricón (a homophobic slur, let's not sugarcoat it). For us Argentines, that's normal insult on the pitch.'
He even flips the script on Kylian Mbappé, who reportedly called him a 'puto racista' (f****** racist) post-match. 'I heard it clear as day,' Prestianni shrugged, as covered by Andreas Koenigl at IMAGO/HMB-Media. 'They sling mud to put you off, but I stay cool and let my feet do the talking.'
Prestianni's crew at Benfica backed him from the off, and he's got form with dark-skinned teammates without issue. But here's the kicker: even if it's not racial, UEFA's Article 14 bans insults based on 'sexual orientation' too. Minimum? A whopping 10-match ban.
Family Hurt and UEFA's Looming Verdict
The 20-year-old admits the backlash stung deep. 'My mum, dad, grandparents – hearing lies about me? That's proper gutting,' he said. 'I'm a player, used to the noise, but not them reading that rubbish.'
He stayed calm amid threats from Madrid players, focusing on footy. The probe's ongoing, and with his admission, a hefty suspension looms. Already served one, but 10 more? Ouch for Benfica's prospects.
It's a classic case of cultural clash on the global stage – what flies in South American scraps might land you in hot water under UEFA's microscope. Prestianni's unrepentant: 'Everyone who knows me knows I'm no racist.'
Vini's been a lightning rod for this stuff, and fair play for speaking up. But Prestianni's pub-style defence – 'it's just words, mate' – has folks chuckling and shaking heads in equal measure.
Will UEFA buy the 'normal for Argentines' line? Or extend the ban? One thing's sure: this saga's got more twists than a last-minute free-kick routine. Keep eyes peeled for the final whistle.