The Santiago Bernabéu is today the scene of an unusual and tense situation. Gianluca Prestianni, Benfica's forward, is training on the pitch of the white stronghold despite the UEFA sanction that prevents him from playing the second leg against Real Madrid following accusations of racism made by Vinicius Junior.
Absolute Support from Rui Costa
Amid the international uproar, Benfica's president, Rui Costa, has come out in strong defense of his player. "They call Prestianni a racist, but he is not at all. I assure you," declared the president, emphasizing that the institution fully trusts the Argentine's word based on personal knowledge of his daily conduct.
Uncertainty and Institutional Support
The Portuguese club admits to having absolute certainty about what happened on the field, and therefore, has decided to keep Prestianni in the official expedition as a gesture of support. While UEFA's investigation continues, the player maintains his sports routine on rival territory, under the spotlight of a controversy that has transcended strictly football matters.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.