PSG and Bayern linked with Benfica's Prestianni as €100m valuation reported

Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are interested in Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni, according to media reports published since 11 November 2026, with Benfica said to value the 20-year-old Argentine at about €100 million (about £85 million). None of the clubs has confirmed the interest, and no bid has been reported.

The coverage comes seven months after UEFA banned Prestianni for six matches over his conduct toward Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior during a Champions League play-off in February. Outlets disagree on how to describe that offence. Some call it racist abuse, while others report that the sanction was for homophobic conduct.

Where the transfer reports come from

The reports trace to two origins rather than many independent ones.

The first is Portuguese. Sports Mole, publishing on 11 November, said it was relaying information from the Portuguese sports newspaper Record that PSG are interested and Bayern are monitoring the player. Goal attributed Bayern's interest to Portuguese journalist Pedro Sousa, who also named PSG and said Benfica could command up to €100 million.

The second is Argentine. Get French Football News reported on 12 November, citing TyC Sports, that PSG are among the interested clubs and that Bayern, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Aston Villa are also keeping track of him.

Other English-language and international coverage largely repeats these accounts. None of the clubs named has commented publicly in the material reviewed for this article.

Conflicting signals on timing

The reports do not agree on when a move could happen. Sports Mole framed the interest around the summer 2027 transfer window and suggested he could leave for less than €100 million then. Goal's report indicated PSG could approach Benfica soon, and Get French Football News said he could leave Portugal as early as this winter. None of these timelines has been confirmed by Benfica or the clubs.

The €100 million figure and his contract

The €100 million number is not new. When Benfica completed his signing from Vélez Sarsfield in January 2024, his release clause was reportedly set at €100 million, according to Portuguese newspaper A Bola as cited by Wikipedia. A release clause is a fixed fee at which a club must allow a player to negotiate with a buyer. Get French Football News, citing TyC Sports, also describes a €100 million clause.

Goal reports that his contract runs until 30 June 2029. Benfica paid a reported €9 million, plus up to €2 million in add-ons, for 85% of his economic rights, according to Wikipedia. Vélez announced the agreement on 22 December 2023, and the deal was completed after he turned 18 on 31 January 2024.

His form this season

Sports Mole reports that Prestianni has scored 12 goals and provided six assists in 20 appearances in all competitions for Benfica this season. Those figures have not been checked against an official league or club source for this article.

Born in Ciudadela, Buenos Aires, he made his professional debut for Vélez in the Copa Libertadores on 24 May 2022. He has three caps for Argentina, according to Wikipedia, and scored his first international goal against Burkina Faso on 3 October 2026.

What UEFA decided over the Vinícius incident

The first leg of the play-off between Benfica and Real Madrid on 17 February 2026 was halted for about 10 minutes after Vinícius alleged that Prestianni had directed racist remarks at him. Benfica lost 1-0 at home. After the match, Prestianni said Vinícius had "regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard", according to Wikipedia.

UEFA opened an investigation and provisionally suspended him for the second leg, a one-match ban he served. Prestianni told UEFA he had not made a racial remark but had used an anti-gay slur, Wikipedia reports, citing ESPN. He has denied racist abuse.

On 24 April, UEFA banned him for six matches, with three suspended for a two-year probation period, according to beIN Sports. The case was reviewed under Article 14 of UEFA's disciplinary regulations, which covers discriminatory conduct. Sources describe the basis differently. beIN Sports refers to racist insults, while Sports Mole and Wikipedia, citing Sky News, say the ban was for homophobic conduct. beIN Sports also reported that UEFA asked FIFA to extend the sanction worldwide.

Prestianni was left out of Argentina's squad for the 2026 World Cup. International press reports linked the omission to the case and the ban, according to Wikipedia. The Argentine Football Association's reasons were not given in the sources reviewed.

What to watch

Any statement from Benfica, PSG or Bayern would be the first confirmation of the reported interest. In this publication's assessment, a buying club would also have to weigh the reputational questions raised by the UEFA ruling, and the probation period on the suspended part of his ban runs into 2028.