Gianluca Prestianni Gross (born 31 January 2006) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a winger for Primeira Liga club Benfica.[1]

Gianluca Prestianni
Personal information
Full name Gianluca Prestianni Gross
Date of birth (2006-01-31) 31 January 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth Ciudadela, Argentina
Height 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Benfica
Number 25
Youth career
Vélez Sarsfield
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2024 Vélez Sarsfield 36 (2)
2024– Benfica 1 (0)
2024– Benfica B 6 (1)
International career
2022– Argentina U17 6 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 01:52, 30 November 2023 (UTC)

Club career

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Prestianni made his professional debut for Vélez Sarsfield in the Copa Libertadores on 24 May 2022 in match against Estudiantes.[2][3] On 11 October 2023, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2006 worldwide.[4]

On 22 December 2023, Vélez announced that they had reached an agreement with Portuguese club Benfica for the sale of Prestianni, with the deal commanding a fee of 9 million, plus €2 million in add-ons, and 85% of the player's economic rights. However, the deal was set to be completed only after the player's eighteenth birthday, on 31 January 2024.[5] On that date, Benfica officially announced the transfer, with Prestianni signing a contract until 2029.[6] His release clause was reportedly set at €100 million.[7]

International career

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Prestianni has played internationally for Argentina at under-17 level.[8]

In March 2023, multiple media started reporting about Roberto Mancini's interest to call Prestianni to join the senior Italy national football team, just weeks after a similar move was successfully done for fellow Italian-Argentine Mateo Retegui.[9][10]

Personal life

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Born in Argentina, Prestianni is of Italian descent.[11]

Career statistics

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As of match played 11 November 2023[12]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Copa Argentina Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Vélez Sarsfield 2022 Argentine Primera División 5 0 0 0 1[a] 0 6 0
2023 Argentine Primera División 31 2 2 1 33 3
Career total 36 2 2 1 1 0 39 3
  1. ^ Appearance in Copa Libertadores

References

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  1. ^ Prestianni reforça o Benfica! S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese)
  2. ^ "Vélez Sarsfield vs. Estudiantes". Soccerway.com. 25 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Gianluca Prestianni, el juvenil que se peleó con Brasil y se metió en la historia de Vélez Sarsfield" (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 24 May 2022.
  4. ^ Christenson, Marcus; Bloor, Steven; Blight, Garry (11 October 2023). "Next Generation 2023: 60 of the best young talents in world football". theguardian.com. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Vélez detalha negócio com o Benfica por Gianluca Prestianni" [Vélez details deal with Benfica for Gianluca Prestianni]. O Jogo (in European Portuguese). 22 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Prestianni reforça o Benfica!" [Prestianni reinforces Benfica!] (in Portuguese). S.L. Benfica. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Mercado Benfica: Prestianni: o senhor €100 milhões" [Benfica Market: Prestianni: Mister €100 million]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Le provocazioni dei giovani brasiliani che hanno scatenato la lotta con la squadra argentina dopo la finale del torneo U17 a Montaigu" (in Italian). Infobae. 18 April 2022.
  9. ^ "PRESTIANNI, LA 'PICCOLA PULCE' CHE POTREBBE SEGUIRE RETEGUI IN NAZIONALE" (in Italian). Cronache di Spogliatoio. 28 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Los cuatro argentinos que sigue Roberto Mancini tras la convocatoria de Retegui" (in Spanish). TNT Sports. 28 March 2023.
  11. ^ 🖉"Da Capaldo e Valentini a Maestro Puch: tutti gli oriundi nel mirino di Mancini per l'Italia - TUTTOmercatoWEB.com". www.tuttomercatoweb.com.
  12. ^ Gianluca Prestianni at Soccerway
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