Cleared of Charges After 134 Days in Custody, Ex-Manchester City Star Benjamin Mendy Aiming to Emulate Cristiano Ronaldo, Signs With Ligue 1’s FC Lorient

Benjamin Mendy established himself as a key cog in Pep Guardiola’s squad since his arrival in Manchester City in 2017. His positive spell on the team came to a screeching halt in August 2021 as he got entangled with the law. He pleaded not guilty as a response. But it was a two-year battle.

Until some time ago, the Frenchman faced uncertainty in his career as Manchester City released him in June upon the end of his contract. News regarding him making his return to the sport has just surfaced! He returns to his home country and joins FC Lorient, a Ligue 1 club. Mendy seemingly had a few options to choose from. He could either choose the Lionel Messi or the Cristiano Ronaldo route.

Mendy makes his soccer comeback while emulating the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo

Recent years haven’t been easy for Benjamin Mendy. The former Manchester City fullback has spent a total of 134 days in custody. After living a lowkey life for a while, the court found him ‘not guilty’ of any allegations. While he’s a free man now, the fullback joined Ligue 1 side FC Lorient in no time! His contract with City expired last month. Not receiving a contract offer until the transfer window shut could have turned into a potential issue. But not anymore. As per Fabrizio Romano, the French fullback has signed a deal with FC Lorient till 2025.

While a return to France was an option, Mendy’s soccer career could have turned toward Saudi too. Saudi Arabian clubs have become quite popular these days due to the lucrative financial package they offer. After Cristiano Ronaldo, several players, including Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Roberto Firmino, and Ruben Neves have opted for the Saudi move. Al-Ettifaq is reportedly offering Jordan Henderson four times his current salary.

Without a doubt, the pay is high. The only drawback is the absence of European soccer. It could have been quite a good move for Mendy. Keeping in mind his faith, it would be easier for him to adapt to the culture and traditions. Another probable option was the route that Lionel Messi has taken. The route to America and the MLS.

READ MORE: “America Has Less Issues Than Saudi”: Cristiano Ronaldo Critics Slammed Over $200M Deal After Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Getting Snubbed

Messi is currently on a $55 million deal at Inter Miami, the highest wage in the league by far. Other ex-European stars like Lorenzo Insigne and Xherdan Shaqiri are also part of the MLS. But Benjamin Mendy has decided to do something different.

Nevertheless, Mendy can finally breathe a sigh of relief after ensuring himself free of controversy after being acquitted by the court. Moreover, he can find solace because notable footballing personalities offered their support and expressed their solidarity with him.

Vinicius Jr, Paul Pogba, and Memphis Depay release messages in support of Mendy

Several renowned soccer superstars came forward to support the French footballer after the news of his acquittal hit the mainstream media.

Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior wrote an open letter to the Frenchman deriding the ordeal the footballer faced after being charged initially. He outlined the loss Mendy incurred in his professional career after not playing for two years while also showcasing attention to the psychological damage he incurred throughout the years.

Vini Jr wrote, “You have lost two years of career, but this is the least of this whole situation… And the psychological damage? Surely your life will never be the same again. The culture of reputation destruction has claimed another victim… Fake news is created and spread without verifying any facts. My question is what will be done to repair the damage?”

Similarly, Paul Pogba expressed his delight through a video wherein he celebrated the news by Facetiming the World Cup winner. Former Barcelona star Memphis Depay also put up a post on Instagram offering his solidarity for Mendy. He also questioned the scrutiny the footballer faced.

Nevertheless, Mendy is on the verge of restarting his soccer career, with the support of his colleagues and compatriots standing by him. Do you think he will be able to replicate similar success from the past? Let us know in the comments below.

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