It is the stupor that predominates, this Wednesday morning, among observers of French football. FC Lorient, 10th in Ligue 1 last season, said it was “happy” to announce the recruitment of Benjamin Mendy, who has signed a two-season contract, ie until June 2025, with Les Merlus.
Left side with 10 selections for the France team and world champion in 2018, Mendy was found not guilty of six rapes and a sexual assault in England last January. He was again acquitted on two other charges, rape and attempted rape, just five days ago.
Mendy, 29, “satisfied the traditional medical visit”, specifies FC Lorient in its press release. Passed by AS Monaco and Olympique de Marseille, Mendy had been free since June 30 after the expiration of his contract at Manchester City. He has not appeared on a football pitch since August 15, 2021, in a Premier League game against Tottenham.
In the wake of his acquittal on July 14, Mendy received the support of many footballers, including some French internationals like Paul Pogba or Samuel Umtiti. But there is no doubt that his return to the lawns of Ligue 1 will not please everyone, players but also managers or supporters.
FC Lorient has already resumed training and will play a friendly match at Guingamp this Saturday July 22. Mendy is unlikely to be fit for this match. The physical and mental state of the native of Longjumeau remains a big question mark. A member of the Blues epic in Russia during the 2018 World Cup, Mendy was transferred from Monaco to Manchester City for nearly €57 million in the summer of 2017. Serious injuries to both knees slowed his rise at the English club.
It may be necessary to wait for the official start of the season to see Benjamin Mendy again on a football pitch. This could happen, for example, on the first day of Ligue 1. Les Merlus will travel to Paris Saint-Germain on the weekend of August 12 and 13. Their first home game will be the following week, with the reception of OGC Nice.
