Benfica manager José Mourinho has threatened to permanently exile winger Gianluca Prestianni from his squad if a UEFA investigation confirms he racially abused Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior.
Benfica manager José Mourinho has issued a stern warning to Gianluca Prestianni amid a high-profile UEFA investigation into alleged racial abuse during a Champions League clash against Real Madrid.
Following accusations from Vinícius Júnior, Mourinho emphasized his zero-tolerance policy regarding discrimination.
“If he is indeed guilty, I will no longer look at him the same way and it will be over with me,” Mourinho stated, placing the young Argentine’s future at the club in jeopardy.
The controversy stems from the first-leg playoff where Vinícius reported being called a “monkey” five times, a claim supported by teammate Kylian Mbappé.
While Benfica initially defended the 20-year-old, Mourinho’s latest comments signal a shift toward internal accountability.
He warned that any breach of club principles would be fatal to the player’s tenure: “If my player has not respected the principles… his career will end with me.”