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Life without football. For two years, Benjamin Mendy (30 years old) lived far from the green rectangle. We didn’t necessarily think we’d see him play again anytime soon. But ultimately, the former Olympique de Marseille and AS Monaco player returned to the Ligue 1 pitches last year in the jersey of FC Lorient. A club which opened its doors to him just a few months after the end of a two-year ordeal for the French side. It all started in 2021, when he was accused of rape and attempted rape by six young women in Manchester. Mendy quickly denied it. But he was sent to prison for 4 months before being released on bail while awaiting trial.
Mendy charges the Citizens
Ultimately, he was found not guilty on July 14, 2023. A relief for the player, who burst into tears when the verdict was announced and thanked God as he left Chester court. The left-back, who therefore put on his crampons again in Lorient, did everything to return to a “normal” life. But he is also determined to defend himself. He therefore took his former club, Manchester City, to court since they refused to pay him his salary of $6 million (a little over €7.1 million) per year, for two years, while awaiting his trial. . The Frenchy therefore wants to recover his dues. This Monday, The Telegraph reveals written statements from Mendy, contained in a file of additional evidence. He talks about his situation while pointing the finger at the Skyblues and his former teammates who, according to him, also took part in the parties he organized.
“Several Manchester City first team players, including the club captain, were all present at the parties I attended and organized (…) We all drank alcohol. We’ve all had casual relationships with women. We have all broken Covid-19 restrictions. That doesn’t excuse my behavior, but I think it’s unfair for Manchester City to target me in the way they did. The difference between me and the other Manchester City players is that I was the one who was falsely accused of rape and publicly humiliated.”
He points the finger at his former club
The Frenchman, who does not name anyone directly, puts his teammates or former teammates in a delicate situation. At the time of the facts, the Telegraph recalls that Fernandinho was the captain. In previous years, Vincent Kompany and David Silva had worn the armband. Represented by lawyer Nick De Marco, who is a specialist in the type of cases, Mendy will attend a two-day hearing which will determine whether or not the Mancunians must pay him the compensation he is demanding (unpaid wages between September 2021 and July 2023). Besides, he charged Man City. “I can’t help but think that the club is trying to make it appear that I was acting recklessly, and that my alleged recklessness led to me being arrested for crimes I did not commit. I would just like to point out that at the time in question I was not doing anything different to several players in the Manchester City first team. »
He added: “I was just as ready, willing and able to carry out my duties as the other Manchester City players who Manchester City knew had attended the parties and who, from Manchester City’s point of view, acted recklessly . I am, however, not aware of Manchester City deducting or suspending the wages of any of the other players, even when it was common knowledge that these players had attended the parties. “So I find it incredibly unfair that Manchester City effectively left me out of the team when I wasn’t doing anything different to the rest of the team.” Coming up against Manchester City, the Frenchman hopes to receive good news.
He was helped financially by teammates
Especially since the player, who had to sell his Cheshire mansion to cover legal fees, bills and alimony after his wages were withheld, had to borrow money. The one who received financial assistance from his agent, Meïssa N’diaye according toEvening Standardwas also able to count on teammates at the time. “I had trouble paying my child support, I felt bad. Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez all lent me money to help me try to pay my legal fees and support my family.” Alone now facing his former club Benjamin Mendy is now waiting for justice to decide.
