Mendy makes football return after two years as he comes off bench for Lorient

17 September 2023 , 14:34

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Mendy makes football return after two years as he comes off bench for Lorient

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 – for whom he last appeared in August 2021, during an opening day of the Premier League season defeat at Tottenham – 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.

Mendy celebrated Lorient's late equaliser on his debut vs his former club Monaco (AFP via Getty Images)

On Sunday, Mendy made his debut for his new club as he came on for Vincent Le Goff with 19 minutes of normal time remaining and he was on the pitch when his side netted a 98th minute equaliser through Romain Faivre to snatch a late draw.

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Tosin Aiyegun had given Lorient the lead in the second minute of the clash but Monaco turned the game on its head thanks to goals from Aleksandr Golovin and former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun – who had just come on as a substitute – in either half, prior to the late equaliser for the hosts.

Mendy was instantly back in the thick of the action on his debut for Lorient (AFP via Getty Images)

Mendy joined Manchester City for £52million in 2017, inking a £100k-a-week deal when arriving from Monaco. But he was released at the end of June when his contract ended. His last appearance for City came on the opening day of the Premier League 2021/22 campaign.

The left-back is now once again plying his trade in France, where he previously represented Le Havre, Marseille and Monaco – the side he faced on Sunday.

Colin Millar