Benjamin Mendy, a former Manchester City player, has disclosed that some of his teammates lent him money after the club stopped paying him after he was charged with rape and sexual assault.
Mendy, who currently plays for Lorient in France’s Ligue 2, told an employment tribunal that Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, and Riyad Mahrez assisted him financially during his legal battle.
Mendy is seeking £11.5 million in unpaid pay from Manchester City, claiming that the club withheld his £500,000-a-month income after the accusations were filed in 2021. He was later found not guilty on all charges.
The jury heard that Mendy swiftly ran out of money and had to sell his Cheshire property to pay legal expenses and utilities. He emphasized how tough it was to organize child support payments at the time, and he praised his agency and teammates for their assistance.
Mendy’s deal includes substantial bonuses for appearances, Champions League qualification, and image rights.
However, Manchester City claimed they were not compelled to pay him because he was suspended by the Football Association and unable to execute his obligations as a player.
Despite assurances from City’s chief football officer that he would be paid if cleared, Mendy has yet to receive his withholding pay.
His witness testimony indicated displeasure that the club did not acknowledge or apologize for the harm caused by the false charges.
The tribunal, which is likely to take two days, will evaluate if Mendy is owed earnings from his time with Manchester City.
