The coach made a strong statement about the potential consequences for his player. As journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed on his Instagram account, the coach warned that if Prestianni’s words were true, his career with Mourinho and Benfica would be over.

“I love Arbeloa and I will continue to love him but I think I took the right position about that case. I took position without defending one or attacking another. I clearly said he didn’t want to wear either Real white jersey or Benfica’s red jersey in a situation that could eventually be serious, that I said after the game,” Mourinho said.

“That’s why I tell you to read the Declaration of Human Rights and I repudiate any discrimination or prejudice. I also tell you that if you prove that my player did not respect these principles, this player’s career with coach Mourinho and Benfica comes to an end.”

Anticipation builds over final decision

Jose Mourinho is undoubtedly one of the most experienced coaches in European soccer today, not only because of his achievements but also for how he manages his squads.

For this reason, he still maintains a cloud of uncertainty regarding Prestianni’s situation and a potential sanction after his incident with Vinicius Jr during the latest Champions League playoffs: “I’m not a literate person… but I’m not ignorant either. I put the presumption of innocence and always put a if.

“Unfortunately, UEFA had preferred to keep the player away from game looking at article 416328… and they went in the direction of not getting into ‘IFs.’ If the player is effectively guilty, I won’t look at him the same way again and it’s over with me. But I have to put a lot of ‘IFs’ ahead.”

Mourinho is prohibited from managing the match in person after being sent off by referee Francois Letexier during the first leg at the Estadio da Luz. As a result, he must serve a one-match touchline ban.

“I will not sit on the bench, I will not be able to go to the locker room, nor communicate with the team,” Mourinho stated during a press conference following the 1-0 first-leg defeat. “It will be difficult for me, but my colleagues and assistants will be there doing a great job”.

In addition to the absence of their head coach, Benfica will also be without Gianluca Prestianni. Following the incidents involving Vinicius Jr. in the first leg, UEFA made a final decision to uphold the midfielder’s suspension, rejecting an appeal from the club to have the Argentine available for today’s match.

Mourinho criticizes officiating following suspension

With Real Madrid holding a 1-0 lead and tensions high at the Estadio da Luz following the incident between Vinicius Jr. and Prestianni, the Brazilian forward committed a foul that many believed warranted a second yellow card and a subsequent sending-off.

However, referee Francois Letexier opted not to issue the booking, sparking an angry reaction from Mourinho. The French official cautioned the Portuguese manager for his protests, but as Mourinho continued to voice his frustrations, Letexier issued a second yellow card, resulting in his expulsion from the match.

“I was sent off for saying something very obvious,” a visibly frustrated Mourinho said during the post-match press conference. “The referee has a script that says Tchouameni, Huijsen and Carreras cannot see a yellow. I have 1,400 matches on the bench and I knew who he could card and who he couldn’t. We know how this works”.

In Mourinho’s absence, assistant coach Joao Tralhao will lead Benfica at the Santiago Bernabeu. Tralhão also addressed the situation, describing the dismissal of the two-time Champions League winner as “exaggerated” during his pre-match briefing.

“We feel it was an exaggerated situation,” Tralhao stated. “He is our leader; he is present, and football forces us to adapt. I cannot speak with him during the match, but he will always be with us. His ideas and those of the club will be defended”.

Recently, Benfica president publicly defended Gianluca Prestianni amid racism allegations, which triggered debates across social media and sports outlets, as UEFA dismissed the complaint filed by Benfica after their Champions League loss to Real Madrid.

Courtois made his stance clear: “Mourinho? It’s disappointing to use the Vini celebration as an excuse. You can’t use that to justify a possible racism episode,” he said according to @MadridXtra on X. His remarks underline Real Madrid’s view that celebrations should not be conflated with alleged misconduct, highlighting the solidarity within the squad.

Mourinho’s legal moves stir additional debate

Mourinho reportedly makes legal decision for Benfica’s second leg, a move that continues to divide opinions and intensifies the narrative around the incident. Courtois’ criticism reinforces the perception that the matter should be addressed carefully and fairly.

What’s next for Vinicius Jr. and Real Madrid

As the Champions League progresses, Vinicius Jr.’s focus will be crucial the team’s success. Real Madrid will face Benfica on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu, in the second leg.

According to Sky Sports, Mourinho intends to exercise his right not to speak before and after the match between Benfica and Real Madrid. Instead, his assistant coach, João Tralhão, will take on media duties.

Despite a UEFA directive mandating head coaches to address the media before and after games, Mourinho is leveraging the red card he received in the first game to justify his decision. This appeal allows him to bypass the usual media obligations.

As he is currently suspended, Mourinho will not engage with the media, citing his rights under the established rules. Consequently, his assistant will fulfill all media commitments on Tuesday and after Wednesday’s clash against Los Merengues.

Prestianni receives formal communication from UEFA

Apart from the developments regarding Mourinho, Argentine player Gianluca Prestianni has received formal communication from UEFA related to the incident with Vinicius Jr. in the opening playoff match.

Ultimately, UEFA has sanctioned Benfica’s Prestianni following the controversial incident involving the Brazilian star. Facing this scenario, the Portuguese team is determined to overcome the sanctions and turn the tide in its favor to advance further in the Champions League.

Benfica react to UEFA’s ruling on Prestianni

In light of UEFA’s ruling, Benfica have issued a strong statement in response to the punishment of Prestianni over the allegations from Vinicius Jr. With tensions high, the stage is set for an intense showdown in Spain, as Real Madrid leads by a narrow 1-0 margin.

Without both Mourinho and Prestianni on the bench, Benfica will fight vigorously to secure their spot in the next round of the Champions League. Meanwhile, Real Madrid will be fully equipped for this decisive encounter on Wednesday, with Vinicius Jr. confirmed to play against the Portuguese side.

With the return leg scheduled for Wednesday, February 25, at the Santiago Bernabeu, expectations are high regarding the atmosphere in the stadium—especially after reports indicated that Benfica have reportedly decided to include Prestianni in their squad for the match. Arbeloa took the opportunity during a press conference ahead of Saturday’s LaLiga fixture against Osasuna to send a pointed message to Mourinho.

“I am not here to comment on anyone’s reflections; everyone is free to give their opinion,” Arbeloa said. “Vinicius Junior scored a fantastic goal in a great stadium and celebrated it the way we have seen hundreds of players celebrate throughout history, regardless of their condition or skin color”.

“We cannot label the victim as a provocateur; we will not allow it. I believe it is unjustifiable to accuse the victim. Nothing Vinícius Júnior does on a football pitch justifies a racist act. It is a racist act that we never want to see again—one that has no place in sport or society. We have an enormous opportunity to not let this pass and to continue fighting this scourge that is racism,” the Spaniard concluded.

The soccer world now turns its attention to the Bernabeu, where the fallout from these exchanges is expected to create a volatile environment for the decisive second leg. With UEFA investigations ongoing, the tension between the two coaching staffs has added a significant layer of drama to one of the season’s most anticipated matchups.

Real Madrid submit evidence to UEFA investigation

To clarify the situation, UEFA have launched an investigation and appointed an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector. Real Madrid officially announced this Thursday that they have submitted all relevant evidence to support the veracity of Vinicius Jr.’s allegations.

“Real Madrid C.F. announces that it has today provided UEFA with all available evidence regarding the incidents that occurred last Tuesday, February 17, in the Champions League match our team played in Lisbon against SL Benfica,” the club stated in an official release.

While Real Madrid did not disclose specific details regarding the evidence presented, journalist Jose Luis Sanchez provided further insight on the popular Spanish program El Chiringuito de Jugones, reporting that the material consists of three key elements.

Sanchez detailed that the submission to UEFA includes: first, comprehensive video footage of the direct incident between Gianluca Prestianni and Vinicius Jr.; second, images from the stands capturing spectators making racist gestures; and third, formal statements from Real Madrid players who reportedly overheard the remarks made by the Argentine winger.

In his remarks, Mourinho appeared to question the veracity of the Brazilian’s complaint, while also suggesting that the forward should celebrate goals with his own teammates rather than in front of the opposing fans, like Benfica legend Eusebio once did. Those comments were poorly received across the sport, leading World Cup champion Lilian Thuram to slam Mourinho, stating that “there is a feeling of white superiority and narcissism in his words”.

Amidst this backdrop, the Benfica boss spoke once again on the situation ahead of their upcoming Primeira Liga fixture against AVS Futebol SAD. Following a training session, Mourinho was asked how the squad is feeling after the grueling match against Real Madrid.

“The match was truly demanding in every aspect. Up until the 50th minute, it was a game of maximum effort—both physically and tactically—requiring the concentration that a match of that level demands,” the Portuguese manager indicated.

Furthermore, without naming names, he acknowledged that the clash against the Spanish giants left a significant emotional toll due to the incident following the Real Madrid goal.

“I must also recognize that from the 51st minute until now—and our conversation doesn’t end with this—it has not been easy to emotionally manage what happened and what continues to happen. But tomorrow there is an important game that is fundamental for our ambitions and dreams, and we have to concentrate and try to play at the highest level,” he added.

Vincent Kompany rejects Mourinho’s Eusebio comparison

Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany has joined the chorus of voices disagreeing with Mourinho. Kompany took particular issue with Mourinho citing the legendary Eusebio and his humble celebrations as a way to criticize Vinicius’s conduct.

“He mentions him to say that Benfica cannot be racist because the best player in the club’s history is Eusebio,” Kompany remarked during a press conference prior to Bayern Munich’s game against Eintracht Frankfurt.

“Do you know what Black footballers had to go through in the 1960s? My father is a Black man from the sixties who also fought his way through… Probably at that time, the only option they had was to be quiet, say nothing, and be ten times better than everyone else just to get a little credit. That was probably Eusébio’s life,” he added.

Amidst this backdrop, UEFA has opened an investigation to evaluate Prestianni’s situation, but Mourinho’s statements have drawn sharp condemnation from Lilian Thuram, a World Cup winner with France in 1998. The legendary French defender, who played for Juventus and Barcelona, labeled the Portuguese coach a “small man” for doubting Vinícius’s accusations.

“Jose Mourinho is a great coach with an exceptional career. He has worked with many black players throughout his life—enough to not doubt the veracity of a racist act,” Thuram told L’Équipe.

Thuram grew increasingly aggressive in his remarks, dismissing any focus on Vinicius’s goal celebration as a provocation. “But how can he say that? Who are you, Mr. Mourinho, to allow yourself to decide what Vinicius Junior has the right to do or not? There is a feeling of white superiority and narcissism in your words,” he added.

“The racist act of which Vini was a victim is not linked to his behavior, but to the color of his skin. And how can we not take into account what the players are saying? So that’s it—Vinicius is crazy, he made up an insult and ran to the referee?” Thuram questioned. “Kylian Mbappe also heard it, so is Mbappe crazy too? Are black people crazy, is that it? They are paranoid and invent stories…”

“When Mourinho tries to make us believe that Vinicius Junior is responsible for the racism he suffers, it is pathetic. Through this analysis, he becomes a petty person, a small man,” Thuram added. “Mourinho does not analyze the racist act as a man, but as a white man. We are not obliged to think through the prism of his skin color,” he concluded.

Further backlash following Mourinho’s comments

Mourinho’s remarks appear to have resonated poorly across the soccer world. Beyond Thuram’s scathing critique, icons such as Theo Walcott and Clarence Seedorf expressed their strong disagreement during the match broadcast on CBS Sports, taking issue with the former Real Madrid manager’s stance.

“I am very calm and someone who doesn’t get angry very often,” Walcott said. “I love everything Mourinho has done for football, but here he has made a poor decision. It is perhaps the only time we shouldn’t have heard anything from him—the only night he shouldn’t have spoken in front of the cameras.”

Seedorf echoed those sentiments, emphasizing that there is no justification for racial abuse, regardless of on-pitch tension. “It sounds like he is saying that if Vinicius provokes you, you can be racist toward him, and that is a massive mistake,” Seedorf added. “We should never justify racist insults. Vinicius has had enough. I know Mourinho well and I know he would agree with me, but he expressed himself poorly, unfortunately“.

“Dance, Vini. And please never stop,” Mbappe wrote on a social media post. “They will never tell us what we have to do or not.”

Mbappe’s statement was a clear shot at Mourinho, who broke his silence on Vinicius Jr.’s racism allegations with a strong message. Benfica’s manager suggested Vinicius Jr.‘s celebration was unnecessary as he danced in front of the home fans.

As the players try to put the drama behind and focus strictly on the soccer-related aspect of the game, the incident at Estadio da Luz has been addressed by almost every leader in Real Madrid‘s locker room. On that note, Federico Valverde stood up for Vinicius Jr., taking shots at UEFA and Gianluca Prestianni.

Reactions across the globe

To no one’s surprise, news of the racist behavior protocol being activated during Real Madrid’s visit to Benfica in the UEFA Champions League made waves all around the globe. It led to several reactions, including Brazilian Football Confederation’s public support for its star.

Vinicius Jr. calls Prestianni a coward

As soon as the final whistle blew in Estadio da Luz, all eyes were fixed on Vincius Jr., and his first statement addressing the heated incident in which Prestianni allegedly racially abused him. After Real Madrid’s win, Vinicius Jr. issued a four-word message, setting the stage for the second leg of the knockout round against Benfica.

Moreover, the Brazilian star took to his social media, releasing a long statement in which he called Prestianni a coward. The scenes were chaotic as Prestianni, Vinicius Jr., and Mbappe engaged in a heated argument on the pitch. According to El Chiringuito, Mbappe allegedly heard Prestianni insult Vinicius Jr., leading the French star to call the Argentine a “(expletive) racist.”

During the first leg of the Benfica vs. Real Madrid series, the referee briefly stopped the match after Vinicius reported that he had been subjected to a racist comment by Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni. Following the unfortunate incident, Mourinho chose to address the matter publicly.

“I told Vini Jr. the celebration had to be different. This club has Eusebio as a legend, a black player,” Mourinho said about the incident between the Brazilian and the Argentinian. “Benfica is not a racist club.”

Jose Mourinho believes the situation could have been avoided

Vinicius is often described as a polarizing figure on the pitch. He scored the only goal of the match to give Real Madrid a 1–0 victory, celebrating passionately after finding the net. However, Mourinho suggested that the Brazilian’s celebration may have intensified tensions among Benfica players and fans.

Following the match, several Real Madrid players publicly supported Vinicius, including Federico Valverde. UEFA is expected to open an investigation to determine whether Gianluca Prestianni should face disciplinary action. The case could prove complicated, as there is reportedly no clear audio or video footage of the incident, even though Aurelien Tchouameni revealed what Prestianni allegedly said to Vinicius.

“Vini should’ve gone and celebrated with his teammates, not in the faces of 60,000 people,” Mourinho said after the game. “He’s an incredible player, I love him. But if you score like that, you should go and celebrate with your teammates.

“I have talked to both, Vinicius tells me one thing and Prestianni another,” Mourinho, who also coached Real Madrid in the past, added about the situation. “I will not pick a side.”

What did Gianluca Prestianni allegedly say to Vinicius Jr.?

As of now, there is no verified evidence confirming exactly what Gianluca Prestianni said to Vinicius Jr. However, multiple Real Madrid players have claimed they heard the Argentine winger direct a racist insult toward their teammate. Kylian Mbappe even called on UEFA to ban Prestianni from the Champions League.

According to Tchouameni, Mbappe and other Real Madrid players, Prestianni allegedly called Vinicius “m*nkey” multiple times. UEFA’s investigation will seek to determine whether the accusation can be substantiated and whether sanctions are warranted.

“Our club has reached an agreement with West Ham United of England for the loan transfer of Mexican international Edson Alvarez until the end of the 2025–2026 season, with an option to purchase. We welcome Edson Alvarez to our family and wish Fenerbahce and the yellow-navy team many more victories and championships.”

After failing to establish himself in the Premier League, the 2025–2026 season will be crucial for the midfielder as he prepares for the World Cup, which he will play at home with the Mexican national team. The captain of the famous Tri will be aiming to reach his peak form.

Who is Edson Alvarez?

Edson Alvarez is the current captain of the Mexican national team and, at 27 years old, one of the country’s biggest stars. His career began in the youth system of Club America, and over the years, he became a symbol of the most important team in Liga MX.

Due to his extraordinary potential, Ajax signed him in 2019 in a transfer worth around $18 million. From that moment on, Edson became one of the best midfielders in the Eredivisie, and many rumors linked him to a move to Manchester United.

However, four years later, his Premier League destination was West Ham, where in his first season he became a key player for David Moyes. Nevertheless, the 2024–2025 season was disappointing, as he struggled with injuries, which ultimately led to his departure from the team.

Who just signed with Fenerbahce?

Edson Alvarez has officially signed as a new player for Fenerbahce, and after a bittersweet final year in England, this is the perfect opportunity for redemption under a world-class coach like Jose Mourinho.

In a recent interview with Sportynet, Jose Mourinho was asked to reflect on the player who had contributed most significantly to his development as a coach. In a surprising revelation, he overlooked his time at Real Madrid, choosing instead to highlight an unexpected figure. “Messi, because every time I played against him, he forced me to think a lot.”

Although Jose Mourinho was fortunate to coach numerous legends like Cristiano Ronaldo, it was the Argentine star who challenged the most his tactical approach on several occasions. One of the most impactful instances was the 5-0 defeat to FC Barcelona during his tenure at Real Madrid. For that reason, Messi’s imponent performances helped him to evolve his strategy, embracing a more direct style with Cristiano and Marcelo driving the action down the left flank.

In fact, a former Real Madrid player, Sami Khedira, revealed in a 2024 interview with Marca that one of Jose Mourinho’s greatest obsessions was devising strategies to neutralize Lionel Messi. While he did not secure a Champions League title with the Spanish club, he successfully minimized Messi’s impact in key situations. This achievement highlighted Mourinho’s tactical evolution and his focus on adapting to challenges posed by the Argentine superstar.

Neither Messi nor Cristiano: Jose Mourinho delivers surprising opinion on the GOAT debate

Over the past 15 years, both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been at the center of the GOAT debate, dominating individual and team awards. Former players and coaches alike have named their favorites as the best player of all time. However, Jose Mourinho surprised everyone with his opinion in this long-running debate.

“I think it’s unfair, and when I hear someone say it, I feel something I don’t like. The younger generations know, but they don’t know Pelé, Eusébio, or [Franz] Beckenbauer in depth, and then compare their soccer to today’s and today’s conditions… There are even some slightly comical details. 40 years ago, when it rained, the ball weighed 10 kilos, now it flies,” Mourinho said, via Sportynet.

Despite his opinion on the GOAT debate, Jose did not hesitate to crown Lionel Messi as the best player of this generation, placing him above Cristiano Ronaldo. In an interview with TNT in 2024, he remarked that the Argentine was “untrainable,” effortlessly mastering every aspect of the game. He even suggested that Messi could have taught him a thing or two.