Gianluca Prestianni Denies Racially Abusing Vinícius Júnior During Champion’s League Game

ByMF Jones

Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior has to be the most racially abused player on the planet at this point, but it doesn’t make it any less shocking any time it happens.

This time, rather than the abuse coming online or from the stands, Vini alleges that he was racially abused by Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni during Real’s 1-0 victory in their Champion’s League game last night.

Vinícius has accused the Argentinian forward of calling him a “monkey” (“mono”) multiple times. The game was halted for 10 minutes as Vinícius pointed Prestianni out to the referee:

Now obviously no one can say with 100% certainty whether Prestianni called Vini Jr a “monkey” or not, but it definitely does not look good. Why would he cover his mouth with his shirt if he wasn’t saying something that he shouldn’t? Would Vini Jr really make the whole thing up? I doubt it. Even Vini’s teammate Kylian Mbappe gave an interview after claiming he heard it as well.

Naturally, Prestianni is denying the whole thing, putting out the following statement and assuring he wasn’t being racially abusive:

“I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults to Vini Jr, who regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard. I was never racist with anyone and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players”.

Not sure that’s going to convince anyone, to be fair. Here’s another angle:

Sadly, a load of people are blaming Vini Jr for his troll-like behaviour following the goal he scored and suggesting he brings the abuse on himself…

His latest Instagram post has also been bombarded with racist emojis and such…

Amazingly, Vini’s teammate Aurelien Tchouameni claims that Prestianni was insisting that he used the word “f*ggot”, and not “monkey”…

Obviously, neither racism or homophobia have any place in football, but again, only Prestianni knows what he said for sure, even if he’ll never admit it. Pretty sad that this is still an issue in 2026. You’re telling me all that bending of the knee before games was for nothing?!

For the Watford DC diversity officer who screamed ‘go back to your own country’ at railway staff, click HERE.

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