Benjamin Mendy made his first football appearance since August 2021 – when playing for Manchester City – as he made his debut for Lorient in Ligue 1 against Monaco
Benjamin Mendy made his first football appearance in more than two years as he come on as a late substitute for Lorient against Monaco in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
The left-back joined Lorient as a free agent this summer after his contract at Manchester City â for whom he last appeared in August 2021, during an opening day of the Premier League season defeat at Tottenham â was allowed to expire in June.
The switch came after Mendy was cleared of rape and attempted rape. The footballer wept when he heard the words “not guilty” at Chester Crown Court in July, marking the end of an almost three-year-long process. He had faced multiple charges of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault. In January this year, he was cleared of six counts of rape and one of sexual assault at the end of a five-month trial.
The jury could not reach a verdict on two claims relating to two women, leading to a retrial. July’s verdict, reached by a jury of six men and six women, meant Mendy has been found not guilty of all claims made against him.