Soccer is pretty much like a rollercoaster, something every player experiences throughout their career, but it’s been brutal in Benjamin Mendy’s case. The Frenchman caught the eye of top clubs for his top class at Monaco, eventually moving to City in a mega-money deal in the summer of 2017.
The move was marred by injury problems and some alleged rape charges that got him arrested in 2021. The Frenchman battled these charges for almost two years, eventually being cleared earlier this year. Benjamin Mendy is now suing Manchester City for unpaid wages due to his contract with the Manchester club, which only expired a few months ago.
Who is Benjamin Mendy?
Benjamin Mendy rose to prominence as part of the Monaco squad that defeated Manchester City in the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League Round of 16. The squad also had the likes of Radamel Falcao, Kylian Mbappe, Bernardo Silva, Bakayoko, and Sidibe.
Mendy started his professional career in 2010, playing for Le Havre’s B and senior teams up until 2013, when Marseille acquired him. He spent the next three years at the French club, building his reputation as one of the brightest left-backs in Ligue 1.
His game improved greatly under Marcelo Bielsea, Guardiola’s role model and mentor. Three years after he joined Marseille, Mendy was on the move again, and this time to Monaco, who had some of the best young players on the planet in their books then.
He won the Ligue 1 title with Monaco in a record-breaking season that saw the team score 107 goals in the league. He joined Manchester City at the end of his first season at Monaco on a six-year contract alongside Bernardo Silva. The deal made Mendy the most expensive defender in the world at the time, a record that Manchester United has since broken for what they paid for Harry Maguire.
Benjamin Mendy reportedly files charges on Manchester City
Benjamin Mendy’s big-money move to City proved to be a huge disappointment. Firstly, he had injury problems that forced City to invest in other options in the position, including an old Fabian Delph and Zinchenko, a defensive midfielder who was converted to fill in for Mendy whenever he was out injured.
Mendy started partying after experiencing a sudden rise to fame in the Premier League, which eventually led to him facing rape accusations from a number of women, including some minors. He was arrested in 2021, and he fought hard to maintain and prove his innocence in court.
This led to his suspension at Manchester City, although his contract was never terminated. After being cleared of all charges earlier this year, Mendy was released following the expiration of his contract in June, leaving him free to sign for FC Lorient, where he now plays.
According to AP News, Mendy has launched formal charges against Manchester City over unpaid wages. According to the Frenchman, his wages were deducted without any authorization while he was battling with the allegations.
This spells a difficult period for Manchester City, who are battling with the possibility of being stripped of titles or even relegated due to the 115 FFP charges they’re dealing with following Everton’s 10-point deduction last week.
Pep Guardiola may also have to deal with the possibility of losing Erling Haaland for a few weeks after the Norweigan picked up an injury during the international break.
Will Manchester City be forced to settle with Benjamin Mendy?
