The controversy surrounding the alleged racist incident involving Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior and Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni continues to develop. Prestianni was suspended for Wednesday’s second leg at the Bernabeu amid the ongoing UEFA investigation.
Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory in the second leg, completing a 3-1 aggregate win. Following the match, Vinicius was seen exchanging shirts with Benfica winger Sidny Lopes Cabral, who had been substituted on in the final minutes at the Bernabeu. The 23-year-old appeared delighted with the gesture, but the moment sparked backlash from some Portuguese supporters.
According to Diario AS, Cabral faced heavy criticism from Benfica fans, with one Instagram post gaining particular attention. It read: “Sidny asked Vinicius for his shirt at the end of the game… We have been criticizing each other for a week for the baby who cries and lies, and as soon as the match is over, the first thing he does is ask for his shirt.”
The post reportedly caught Prestianni’s eye, and the Argentine winger initially liked it before removing the reaction shortly afterward. Despite the deletion, the action was noticed by those following the saga closely.
Prestianni active on social media
Prestianni has been notably active on social media this week. His interaction with the post came after he expressed frustration over being suspended by UEFA for the second leg against Real Madrid, during which he also deleted a previous post.
In the coming weeks, the situation between Vinicius and Prestianni is expected to reach a resolution. UEFA’s investigation is anticipated to conclude soon, while Real Madrid must now turn their attention to crucial upcoming fixtures in both La Liga and the Champions League.
