Fiorentina's Press Officer Issues Statement After Press Conference Moment Involving New Signing Goes Viral

Fiorentina's press officer Rossella Petrillo has responded to a viral clip from Arthur Cabral's press conference unveil by releasing a statement on her social media platforms.

It was announced at the end of last month that Vincenzo Italiano's side had completed a permanent deal to sign Cabral from Swiss Super League side FC Basel following the departure of star striker Dusan Vlahovic.

The 23-year-old Brazilian, who scored 65 goals in 106 games for Basel, was then introduced to the media following his arrival.

Cabral sat down and appeared to stare at Petrillo; a moment that soon went viral on social media, with Italian journalist Tancredi Palmeri posting the clip on Twitter.

Spanish publication Marca also posted the clip to their Twitter page, saying: "The controversial gesture of a Fiorentina player that has outraged thousands of fans. What was he looking at?"

In a report on their website, they also made the following statement.

"Many have asked the question of just what the Fiorentina player was looking at, but it's yet another uncomfortable reminder of the potential issues people, particularly women, may have to face in the workplace."

Petrillo, who worked for RTV38 television before she took over as press officer at Fiorentina in 2021, has since addressed the situation in a post on her social media channels.

"The video is controversial because you are the victim of an unrealistic view that wants women to be the object of lust, instead of a people with a normal working relationship," she wrote.

"While you're having a rotten mindset, the only thing I see is two people working."