Former Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy disclosed in a recent tribunal hearing that he received financial assistance from teammates Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, and Riyad Mahrez while he was suspended without pay after being charged with rape and sexual assault in August 2021.
Mendy, who is claiming £11.5 million in unpaid wages from City, was suspended after being charged and subsequently cleared of several serious charges in 2023.
The club continued to pay him after his initial arrest in November 2020, but ceased payments once formal charges were brought against him.
Mendy stated that he quickly ran out of funds and was forced to sell his Cheshire mansion to cover legal fees and support his family.
In his witness statement, Mendy expressed gratitude towards his former teammates, saying, “Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez all lent me money to help me try and pay my legal fees and support my family.”
During the hearing, it was revealed that Mendy had sent multiple messages to City officials regarding his outstanding salaries but received no response.
His agent claimed that a City executive had assured him that Mendy would be compensated once the trial concluded, a statement that the executive later denied.
Mendy also faced scrutiny over hosting parties during a period when he was under bail conditions, admitting that it posed a risk to his situation.
He felt singled out for the consequences of these actions, stating that other players attended similar gatherings without facing repercussions.
Mendy joined Manchester City from Monaco in 2017 for £52 million and won three Premier League titles with the club before his departure in June 2023.
He currently plays for French side Lorient. The tribunal hearing is expected to last two days.
