Khephren Thuram, Juventus’s midfielder, recently opened up about the ongoing problem of racism in football during an interview with Canal+. He focused on a recent incident in a Champions League match where Benfica’s young player, Prestianni, was accused of directing racist insults at Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. Thuram didn’t hold back: “It’s tough for a young Black lad. Even in 2026, people can still be attacked just because of their skin colour. When Vinicius was attacked, it felt like it was me. It could have been me. All because I’m black. I honestly don’t have the answer to stop this, especially not inside stadiums.”

Thuram expressed his frustration and empathy, pointing out how deeply the issue hits home for players like him. Vinicius and his teammates accused Prestianni of racist remarks, but the Benfica player denies it. Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated case; Vinicius has faced racist abuse multiple times in Spain and elsewhere across Europe.

“What Vinicius went through is something I could face too,” Thuram added. “And all for being black? I don’t know how to make this stop in stadiums.” He mentioned that leaving the pitch might be an option, but emphasised his desire to continue playing football; it’s his profession and passion. “There should be tougher consequences for those who behave like this. Why am I the one expected to leave the field? The offender should be the one kicked out. It’s time to take this seriously and put an end to these senseless acts.”

The stand against racism runs deep in Thuram’s family. His father, Lilian Thuram, is a former French World Cup winner and ex-Juventus defender, well-known for his anti-racism activism and for founding a foundation aimed at education to fight prejudice. Khephren’s brother, Marcus, is also in Serie A, playing for Inter Milan.

On the field, Khephren has contributed with three goals and four assists in 37 matches this season. He’s under contract with Juventus until June 2029, continuing to build his career amid challenges both on and off the pitch.

Napoli had to dig deep against Lecce, but in the end, they pulled off a gritty comeback win. Inside the locker room afterwards, you could feel the relief mixed with real satisfaction. Especially for Matteo Politano. He finally broke his goal drought and even notched an assist in the same match.

“I’m so happy. I finally got that blessed goal that kept slipping away from me for ages,” Politano told DAZN, just beaming. “Honestly, it was a perfect day. We fought for it. Conte told us at halftime to keep our heads; the goal would come and change everything. He believes in us; he knows what we can do.”

Politano didn’t want all the credit for himself. He made it clear that getting some players back from injury changed the game, and he pointed out how much that squad depth matters for Napoli's Champions League push.

Rasmus Højlund was grinning after the match too; he’d found his scoring touch again. “Feels great to be back on the scoresheet and help the team,” the Danish striker said. He mentioned how players like McTominay, De Bruyne, and Politano really push everyone in training and in games. He had a special word for Politano: “He’s just got assists in his blood.”

Then there was Captain Alex Meret, who kept things pretty real. “Our first half was poor,” he admitted. “We gave the ball away too much and gifted them some scary counter-attacks. In the second half, we played with more bite, and that goal gave us the push we needed.” Meret said he was proud to lead the team out as skipper. Still, he pointed out one thing: Napoli needs to tighten up set-pieces and aerial balls. “Games are decided on those now. We need to be sharper and let in fewer goals.”

Finally, Alisson Santos summed things up simply, talking about his approach as a forward. “I always try to finish near post. I think it makes life harder for the keeper,” he said. “But really, the most important thing is Napoli got the win.”