Man City Reject Benjamin Mendy Watches New Club Against PSG

Benjamin Mendy, who was recently cleared of rape and released by Man City, was spotted watching his new club play against Paris Saint-Germain.

Benjamin Mendy, the French international footballer, was seen attending a match involving his new club, despite recently being cleared of rape charges and released by his former team, Manchester City. Mendy had been accused of assaulting two women during parties held at his Cheshire mansion, which violated lockdown restrictions. This accusation led to a lengthy police investigation that lasted nearly three years. However, last month, Mendy was acquitted of all charges after a retrial, with the jury unanimously finding him not guilty of one count of rape and one count of attempted rape. Mendy was visibly emotional as the verdict was announced at Chester Crown Court.

Interestingly, Mendy's former club had already dropped him from the team one month prior to his acquittal. Following his release, Mendy returned to France and signed with FC Lorient, a team that competes in Ligue 1. During the recent match against Paris Saint-Germain, Mendy was seen on the sidelines, although he was not included in the squad for the game. The 29-year-old defender, who was on the bench when France won the 2018 World Cup final against Croatia, wore a black cap and jacket as he observed the match.

In addition to his return to football, Mendy has also put his £5 million mansion in the UK up for sale, reportedly to avoid bankruptcy. He is also seeking up to £10 million in unpaid wages from Manchester City for the period he was suspended from playing. Mendy had signed a lucrative six-year contract worth £28 million with Manchester City in 2017, which included an average annual salary of £4,680,000. Despite the high expectations surrounding his signing, Mendy's playing time was limited, making only 75 appearances across all competitions in six seasons.

Overall, Benjamin Mendy's journey in recent years has been tumultuous, with serious accusations, a lengthy legal process, and a change in clubs. However, with his acquittal and return to football, Mendy now has an opportunity to rebuild his career and make a fresh start at FC Lorient. Only time will tell how he will fare in his new club and whether he can overcome the challenges he has faced both on and off the pitch.