BUENOS AIRES.- The Argentine footballer Gianluca Prestianni considered that he was sanctioned “without evidence” in the alleged racist incident with the Brazilian attacker Vinicius Jr during a match European Champions League in February.
The Argentine end of the Benfica20, was accused of calling the star “monkey” real Madrid in the first leg of the playoffs to the round of 16 of the Champions.
The referee activated the anti-racist protocol and Vini and other merengue players, like the French star Kylian Mbappéthey later denounced the alleged discrimination.
The Argentine, who then denied the accusations on his social networks, was suspended by the UEFA for the return match, won by Madrid.
In an interview with the Argentine television channel Telefe, released this Wednesday, Prestianni said that missing that match “hurt him a lot” and considered that he was sanctioned “without evidence.”
“I started thinking about my dad, my mom, my grandparents, about so many things being said that I’m not and that didn’t happen. It’s ugly and it hurts a lot,” he said in his first statements to the media after the incident.
The Argentine also said that he is “very grateful” to Benfica and his teammates for supporting him indoors and said that Jose Mourinhohis coach, “is a cracker” and “a great person.”
Prestianni was called up for the friendlies that the Argentine team played last week ahead of the 2026 World Cup in view of Mauritania (2-1) and Zambia (5-0). But he had no action in either of the two victories.
“I work day by day for this opportunity to arrive,” said the winger, who added that his biggest dream is to play in a World Cup with the Albiceleste.
Götze renews with Eintracht Frankfurt
Mario Götzethe man who with his goal gave the world title to Germany in Brazil 2014renewed his contract with the Eintracht Frankfurt until 2028, the club announced this Wednesday Bundesliga.
The 33-year-old attacking midfielder joined Eintracht in 2022 after having spent the bulk of his career at the club. Borussia Dortmund and in the Bayern Munichwith a step through PSV Eindhoven Dutch.
Götze became a hero in his country at the age of 22, scoring the only goal of the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina in extra time, after entering the field in the last moments of regulation time.
