Vinicius again points at Prestianni while Mourinho defends him
Nine months after the controversial clash with Vinicius Junior in the Champions League, the Argentinian Gianluca Prestianni, now a starter for SL Benfica, is once again in the spotlight and has the backing of José Mourinho.
Performance and outlook
The encounter with Vini JR in the February Benfica‑Real Madrid match marked a before and after in his short career, and Prestianni was accused of uttering racist insults, an accusation he denied.
UEFA imposed a six‑match sanction on him for discriminatory conduct, of which three were suspended.
José Mourinho defended him and maintained his support even after the punishment became known.
The case reached the regulations: FIFA introduced for the World Cup a rule that provides for the expulsion of players who cover their mouth during a confrontation with an opponent, and Miguel Almirón was the first player expelled under that rule.
This season Prestianni has accumulated twelve goals and six assists in twenty official matches with Benfica.
Lionel Scaloni has included him in the plans of the Argentine national team.
According to information from Portugal, Bayern Munich remains closely monitoring his development, while PSG is also reportedly considering his signing.
Benfica holds the upper hand: Prestianni is under contract until June 2029 and, according to journalist Pedro Sousa, his departure could reach €100 million.
Standing at just 1.66 metres tall, the winger is short, electric and tremendously unbalanced, and his speed, change of pace and dribbling ability make him difficult to defend against one‑on‑one.
Right‑footed, he can operate on both flanks, stands out for his ability to beat defenders, cut inside and create danger both for himself and his teammates, and this season his goal output is turning him into one of the most highly‑rated young forwards in the European scene.
He is compared to Ángel Correa, a legend of Atlético de Madrid and current River Plate player.