Former Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy was spotted wearing the club’s kit as he joined fans for a friendly game at a local pitch in Cheshire.
This comes after he was found not guilty of rape charges on Friday. Mendy seemed to be in high spirits, laughing, shaking hands, and signing autographs with the fans.
Mendy had previously faced six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, but in January, jurors failed to reach a verdict on two of the charges, leading to a second trial. In the recent trial, Mendy was acquitted of all charges, bringing relief to the player and his supporters.
After the verdict, Mendy expressed his gratitude, saying “Alhamdulillah,” which means “praise be to God” in Arabic. His lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire, stated that Mendy was delighted with the jury’s decision and thanked them for focusing on the evidence presented in the trial.
https://twitter.com/itsaColeWorld80/status/1681257492720893955?s=20
Throughout the three-year investigation, Mendy faced significant challenges, and the process had a profound impact on him. Wiltshire emphasized that he now seeks privacy to begin rebuilding his life.
Fellow footballers, including Memphis Depay, Vinicius Jr, and Paul Pogba, have publicly expressed their support for Mendy, highlighting the difficult period he endured. Mendy missed three years of football due to the trial, including the opportunity to win a treble with Manchester City last season.
Former #ManCity star, Benjamin Mendy, aims to ‘relaunch his career’ as a professional footballer to a move to Saudi Arabia.
Mendy is said to have kept fit in the gym since August of 2021 when he last played for #MCFC, says @SunManCity. pic.twitter.com/oT7rrLon0X
— City Chief (@City_Chief) July 18, 2023