Gianluca Prestianni

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)

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

Club career

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

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

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

Career statistics

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

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

External links

• Gianluca Prestianni at Soccerway