Former Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy revealed he relied on loans from teammates Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, and Riyad Mahrez after the club withheld his wages following rape and sexual assault charges.
This revelation came during an employment tribunal where Mendy is claiming £11.5m in unpaid wages.
Cleared of all charges in 2023, Mendy argues City should have continued paying him despite his suspension following the charges in August 2021.
City maintained that his bail conditions and FA suspension prevented him from fulfilling his contract.
“I very quickly ran out of money,” Mendy stated, explaining he had to sell his home to cover legal costs and living expenses.
“Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez all lent me money to help me try and pay my legal fees and support my family.”
He added, “I believe that it is fair and just for me to be paid the wages that I would have earned but for being falsely arrested for crimes that I did not commit.”
Mendy expressed his desire to return to the team, stating he rejected a contract termination offer because he “wanted to go back and train.”
The tribunal also heard about Mendy’s attempts to recover his wages, including a WhatsApp message to then-City COO Omar Berrada, which went unanswered.
Mendy’s agent claimed Berrada assured him Mendy would be paid his withheld salary after the trial, a claim Berrada denies.
Mendy admitted to breaching Covid-19 rules and bail conditions by attending parties, acknowledging he “couldn’t care less” about the risks at the time. He claimed other players, including the captain, attended similar gatherings without consequence.
Mendy joined City in 2017 for £52m, winning three Premier League titles. His last appearance was in August 2021. He now plays for Lorient in France. The tribunal is expected to last two days.
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