Benjamin Mendy’s situation is getting more complicated by the day. The Manchester City defender has been charged with two additional counts of rape and is now facing a total of six counts of rape and one of sexual assault. The charges are alleged to have taken place between October 2020 and August 2021.
Having joined City from AS Monaco in 2017, Mendy faced multiple injuries which stopped him from reaching his maximum potential. The English champions paid $70 million to sign the left-back, who was regarded as one of the best players in his position at the time of the transfer. Mendy, who grew up in Le Havre’s academy, also played for Marseille before being signed by Monaco in 2016. He is also a French international, having featured 10 times for Les Bleus since 2017.
Mendy last played for Man. City on Aug. 15, when the English champions lost 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in London. He was suspended by the club after being charged by police, pending an investigation. Mendy has been denied bail and remains in custody. The Frenchman and his friend, Louis Saha Matturie, who is also accused of the same wrongdoings, are due to go on trial on Jan. 24, 2022.
Mendy and Matturie have both been summoned to appear at Stockport Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Since the start of the campaign, Joao Cancelo has been Pep Guardiola’s favorite choice at left-back. City sits second in the Premier League, with 23 points from 11 games, three less than top-of-the-table Chelsea.