Felipe Melo lashes out at Prestianni: “His wife must have been unfaithful to him with a black man...”
The former Brazilian player showed no mercy to the Argentinian, accused of uttering racist insults against Vinicius: "Fire to the racists."
No one has remained indifferent following the enormous controversy that overshadowed Tuesday’s Benfica – Real Madrid game. Gianluca Prestianni, the 20-year-old Argentine midfielder, was accused by several Real Madrid players of directing racist insults at Vinícius Júnior. In the hours since, the Brazilian forward has received backing from numerous public figures who have condemned such acts.
Felipe Melo, a former Brazil international and compatriot of Vinícius, switched from celebrating Galatasaray’s thrashing of Juventus to fiercely criticizing what unfolded on the field at the Estádio da Luz. “Fogo nos racistas. E se você defende racista, fogo também,” he wrote on social media – a phrase that in Portuguese carries the force of calling for racists to be “taken down” or “destroyed,” rather than its literal meaning. His message quickly spread, reflecting the anger sparked by the allegations.
Without restraint, and clearly incensed, Melo went further when referring to Prestianni. “His wife must have cheated on him with a Black man…,” he added, moments after insisting that Vinícius is free to celebrate however he chooses and was not provoking anyone.
Outspoken and unfiltered
After delivering his blunt verdict, Melo later admitted he had held back some of his thoughts on the advice of his lawyer. Long known for his fiery temperament and readiness to speak his mind, controversy has often followed him. For now, his intervention remains a personal opinion aired online, but it has intensified the debate surrounding what happened in Lisbon.
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