The former Dutch star Wesley Sneijder sparked widespread controversy after his statements regarding the case of Vinicius Junior and Gianluca Prestianni, revealing that he received death threats from angry fans due to his stance on the incident that occurred during the Real Madrid and Benfica clash in the Champions League round of 16 playoffs.

Schneider confirmed that if he were a player on the same team as Prestianni, he would have been extremely angry at his behavior, considering what happened to be a clear mistake and that the player would pay the price for his actions, noting that fear was evident on Prestianni during the events.

The former Real Madrid star explained that he received thousands of messages from Argentinians, which included death threats over the past week. However, he emphasized that freedom of expression is a right for everyone, even for those who attack him, affirming that he will not back down from his opinion, which he formed based on what he witnessed from the incident.

Schneider criticized Benfica's handling of the issue, considering that Prestianni's trip to Madrid was not the most appropriate decision given the sensitivity of the situation. He called for more cautious handling and the necessary investigations, pointing out that the case is complex and difficult to prove despite the significant controversy it has sparked.