Former Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy is reportedly preparing to initiate legal proceedings against the Premier League champions, asserting that he is owed millions of pounds in unpaid wages.
Mendy is reportedly planning to take Manchester City to an employment tribunal to recoup what he believes were “unauthorized deductions from wages” after being charged with rape and sexual assault two years ago.
After being acquitted of rape and attempted rape charges, the 29-year-old left City upon the expiration of his contract in June.
According to allegations, City stopped paying Mendy in September 2021 after he was charged and held in custody.
‘Nick De Marco KC… is acting for the former Manchester City player Benjamin Mendy in a multi-million-pound claim for unauthorised deductions from wages,’ a statement on behalf of Mendy told Sky Sports.
Read also: Benjamin Mendy Cleared Of 6 Counts Of Rape By UK Jury
‘Manchester City FC failed to pay Mr Mendy any wages at all from September 2021, following Mr Mendy being charged with various offences all of which he was subsequently acquitted of, until the end of his contract in June 2023. The claim will come before an employment tribunal.’
Mendy was acquitted of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in January, but the jury was unable to reach verdicts on two charges, resulting in a retrial. In July, a jury at the retrial acquitted him of those two charges.
Mendy, who reportedly earned about £100,000 ($125,000) per week from City, is aiming to reclaim the unpaid wages owed to him until the end of his contract with the treble-winning club.
Having won the Premier League three times with City, Mendy’s last outing for Pep Guardiola’s team was in 2021, following which he transferred to French club Lorient at the start of the current season.