Benfica have issued a categorical denial of a report claiming that Gianluca Prestianni admitted to teammates he racially abused Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior.
The Portuguese club responded after a media outlet suggested that Prestianni, a young player on Benfica’s books, had privately acknowledged using racist language toward the Brazilian international. In their statement, Benfica rejected that version of events and insisted that no such admission had been made within the squad.
The club’s response comes at a time when incidents of alleged racist abuse in football continue to draw significant scrutiny from governing bodies, clubs and supporters. Vinícius Júnior, in particular, has been at the center of several high-profile racism cases during his time in Spain, which has led to wider discussions about how football authorities and clubs manage discrimination and protect players.
In this instance, however, Benfica have moved quickly to distance themselves from the report and to defend their player against the specific allegation that he confessed to racist conduct. The club did not provide further details about any internal discussions, investigations, or potential disciplinary processes related to the matter, nor did it elaborate on any communication with Real Madrid or with Vinícius Júnior.
No additional official comments from Prestianni, Vinícius Júnior, Real Madrid, or relevant football governing bodies were immediately available. There has also been no public confirmation of the original report’s claims from any party directly involved in the situation.
Without further verified information, the central point remains Benfica’s firm rejection of the claim that Prestianni admitted to racially abusing Vinícius Júnior. The club’s stance underscores how sensitive and consequential such allegations are in modern football, where organizations are expected to address racism decisively while also responding carefully to unproven reports.
As of now, there is no independently confirmed account of any exchange between Prestianni and Vinícius Júnior beyond Benfica’s denial that their player made the alleged admission to his teammates, and no official sanctions or formal charges related to this report have been announced.
