According to the Real Madrid striker, the Benfica player called Vinícius Júnior ‘monkey’ five times, covering his mouth with his shirt. The episode led the Brazilian international to want to leave the game and forced the referee to intervene.
Real Madrid footballer Kylian Mbappé devastated Gianluca Prestianni, revealing that the Benfica player called Vinícius Júnior ‘monkey’ five times, which is why the Brazilian international asked referee François Letexier to intervene.
After Vinícius Júnior’s goal, in the 50th minute, which would dictate Real Madrid’s victory (1-0) against Benfica, in the first leg of the play off to access the round of 16 of the Champions League, the ‘merengue’ player actively addressed the French referee, accusing Benfica’s Argentine international of racist insults.
After the game, in the mixed zone, Kylian Mbappé strongly criticized Prestianni and explained everything that happened.
“Vinícius scored the goal and started dancing to celebrate, these are football things. Then there is a moment of tension with a Benfica player and it is best never to happen. Benfica’s number 25, I don’t want to say the name he doesn’t deserve, with his shirt in front of his mouth, called ‘mono’ (monkey in Spanish) five times. I heard it. The players heard it and from Benfica too”, he stated.
The Real Madrid striker, visibly upset by this episode, was clear and considered that Prestianni should no longer play in the Champions League.
“In this type of situation we have to speak clearly. I have the utmost respect for Benfica, for their coach, who was one of the best coaches in Real Madrid’s history. But for me, this player doesn’t deserve to play in the Champions League anymore. It’s a wonderful thing to play in this competition. We have to set the best examples for young people. If we let this type of situation pass, the values of football are useless”, he defended.
Understanding that not everyone may have heard what happened, Mbappé highlighted that this situation cannot go unpunished and that whoever heard it has to act.
“The first thing I want to say is that we are in the Champions League. We have all the cameras in the world. He puts his shirt in front of his mouth. You can’t see what he said. But we can’t let this kind of thing happen. I spoke to Vinícius, because he didn’t want to play anymore. As a team we have to be united. I spoke to the people at Benfica, but they didn’t listen to what was said. Those who heard have to do something”, he concluded.
Real Madrid beat Benfica 1-0 this Tuesday, at Estádio da Luz, in the first game of the play-off to reach the round of 16 of the Champions League. The return game is scheduled for February 25th, at 8pm, at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, in the Spanish capital.
