Prestianni shouldn’t come to Bernabéu, Mbappé advises Benfica after racist abuse of Vinícius
Abdullateef Fowewe
Real Madrid star, Kylian Mbappé has unleashed a fiery condemnation of Benfica’s young winger Gianluca Prestianni, accusing him of racially abusing teammate Vinícius Júnior during their heated Champions League clash on Tuesday dusk.
In an explosive interview with TNT Sports, Mbappé said, “I believe Gianluca Prestianni shouldn’t come to the Bernabéu, the best stadium in the world”.
He went further, insisting “He doesn’t deserve it, he shouldn’t play”, claiming he personally heard the alleged slur that halted the match for 10 tense minutes.
The controversy erupted amid Real Madrid’s dominant victory, amplifying calls for UEFA to impose stern disciplinary measures on the 19-year-old Prestianni.
Mbappé’s remark underscore the French forward’s staunch defense of Vinícius, who has faced persistent racism throughout his career.
Prestianni swiftly denied the accusations in a public statement, asserting “no racist intent” behind his words.
Vinícius, meanwhile, fired back post-match, branding racists as “cowards” and reigniting debates over entrenched racism in European football.
