Mourinho on Prestianni Case: 'If Guilty, It's Over For Me With Him'

T.E (Elbotola)

01 March 2026at15:55

Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho, manager of Benfica, has once again addressed the Prestianni and Vinicius case, speaking ahead of the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 playoff.

In statements to the media, Mourinho said: "If my player [Prestianni] does not respect these principles, which belong to me and to Benfica, then his career with a coach named Mourinho and at a club like Benfica will come to an end."

Mourinho clarified, however, that he would continue to defend Prestianni until proven otherwise. "The presumption of innocence is a right, but I must put many 'ifs' before that. If they want me to repeat what I reject twenty times, I will do so. UEFA did not include the 'ifs' that should have been included. If the player is truly guilty, I will never look at him the same way I did, and that is the end for me."

He continued: "I love Alvaro and I will continue to love him, but I believe I am the one who made the right decision, not him. I commented on this at the press conference in Madrid when they confronted me with statements from Alvaro and another player accusing Prestianni and defending a Real Madrid player. At that time, I said: I want to be balanced, I don't defend my team, nor do I attack the other team. I even previously used the phrase: I don't want to wear the red shirt, Benfica, nor the white, Real Madrid. I want to be neutral in a case that could be very serious."

Mourinho then questioned the possibility of him refusing to return to Real Madrid if Florentino Perez desired it, stating: "There is one thing I control: my will and my feelings. You are all good professionals, but sometimes you miss some things, signals for important matters. After the issues related to Real Madrid matches, you clung to the idea that I had lost the opportunity to return to Real Madrid, and that you missed a signal or were not qualified enough to capitalize on it. You asked me if it was possible for me to say no, and I answered yes. Do you think I might say no to Florentino if I wanted to return to Real Madrid?"

He added: "I have many flaws, but do you think I am stupid? I was objective when I said I wanted to stay, but you simply did not want to grasp my objectivity. I was the one who hinted that I wanted to stay [at Benfica], but you did not understand. But I just want to stay, respect my contract with Benfica, and if they want to renew, I will do so without discussing anything."

Q&A

What is Jose Mourinho's stance on the Prestianni case?

Mourinho stated that if Prestianni is proven guilty of disrespecting club principles, his career under Mourinho at Benfica would end. He emphasized defending the player until proven otherwise, but his personal view would change drastically if guilt is established.

How does Mourinho's statement affect Prestianni's future at Benfica?

Mourinho's strong words indicate that Prestianni's continued presence at Benfica under his management is contingent on his innocence. If found guilty, Mourinho implied he would no longer view the player the same way, potentially ending his tenure.

What are Mourinho's plans regarding his own future at Benfica?

Mourinho reiterated his strong desire to stay at Benfica and respect his current contract, despite recent speculation linking him to a return to Real Madrid. He expressed willingness to renew his contract without negotiation if the club wishes.

UEFA Champions League

Benfica

Gianluca Prestianni

Real Madrid