Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni has spoken publicly for the first time since his controversial exchange with Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr during February's Champions League play-off, maintaining his position that he directed a homophobic insult at the Brazilian rather than a racist one.
The Argentine player acknowledged using offensive language but defended his actions by claiming such terms are commonplace in his home country.
"Yes, yes, I heard it, but for us Argentines it is a normal insult," Prestianni told Mi Telefe.
The 19-year-old firmly rejected accusations of racism, insisting he has never held such views and never will.
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The incident occurred during the first leg in Lisbon, when the match was suspended for approximately ten minutes following Vinicius Jr's complaint to referee Francois Letexier.
The Brazilian forward had just scored to give Madrid the lead when the confrontation took place.
Video footage captured the two players approaching each other, with Prestianni pulling his shirt up to cover his mouth before the alleged exchange.
Gianluca Prestianni hid his face while speaking with Vinicius Jr in Benfica's Champions League defeat to Real Madrid | GETTYVinicius Jr subsequently alleged that the Benfica player had called him a "monkey."
His teammate Kylian Mbappe, who was positioned nearby during the incident, supported the accusation.
Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni later revealed that Prestianni had claimed he used a homophobic term rather than a racial slur.
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Gianluca Prestianni has always maintained his innocence
| GETTYIn his interview, Prestianni elaborated on his perspective, describing the language as merely a tactic to unsettle opponents.
"For us Argentines, it is like an insult and nothing more, like taking you out of the game," he explained.
The player expressed gratitude towards Benfica's management and coaching staff for allowing him to participate in the second leg despite the controversy.
He also addressed conversations with his own teammates, noting that he plays alongside individuals of the same ethnicity as Vinicius Jr without any issues arising.
"Then they wanted to try to treat me as homophobic. It was to generate trouble for certain things that are not. For us Argentines (they) are normal insults," Prestianni added.
Prestianni also took to X to challenge the narrative surrounding the incident, questioning why Real Madrid players did not react more forcefully if the accusation was genuine.
Vinicius Jr went on to help Real Madrid knock Benfica out of the Champions League
| GETTY"If they keep saying that SUPPOSEDLY I made a racist comment to Vinicius Junior, then why didn't any of them react?" he wrote. "Accusing someone of something serious isn't right, and even less so when it's not true."
He dismissed criticism over covering his mouth with his shirt, arguing that footballers routinely do so when speaking on the pitch.
"Don't try to make up more," he added.
UEFA's investigation into the matter remains ongoing, with no outcome yet announced by European football's governing body.