Benjamin Mendy chasing back pay from Manchester City and selling 拢5m house in bid to avoid bankruptcy
A judge said the defender's HMRC debt is nearly 拢800,000. The hearing comes less than one month after he was cleared of rape and attempted rape.
Wednesday 9 August 2023 15:01, UK
Ex-Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy is chasing millions of pounds of back pay from his former club in a bid to avoid bankruptcy.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is seeking a bankruptcy order against the footballer, who is also trying to sell his house, over a nearly £800,000 tax debt.
It comes less than a month after the 29-year-old was cleared at Chester Crown Court of rape and attempted rape.
Mr Mendy's accountant told a hearing in London how Manchester City had not paid the footballer since September 2021, and that his agent is "in negotiations with the club to get back pay on the basis that he has been found not guilty".
He also said his house near Macclesfield, Cheshire, is being marketed by estate agent Savills for £5m.
"I would like to ask for a short extension because I am told very firmly by his agent that the pay issue will be resolved from Manchester City," he added.
"He was very short of money indeed, the cost of the legal case were over one million pounds."
The full-back left Manchester City in June at the expiration of his contract, having not played for the Premier League and Champions League winners since 2021.
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He has since signed a two-year deal with French club Lorient.
Jacquille Jarrett, representing HMRC, said proceedings at the Insolvency and Companies Court had previously been postponed pending the outcome of the criminal trial and that "there has been no contact from the debtor".
"The agreement advises that an update would be given to HMRC but no contact was made," she added.
"We look to secure a bankruptcy order today."
Criticising Mr Mendy, who didn't appear at the hearing, Judge Clive Jones said: "I'm very unimpressed at the lack of information that's been provided both to HMRC and to the court prior to this hearing.
"That, I really think, is the wrong step for him to take."
The judge adjourned the bankruptcy proceedings to allow Mr Mendy to sell his house.
In July, jurors found the French native not guilty of a charge of rape and one of attempted rape, following a three-week trial at Chester Crown Court.
Mr Mendy had been on trial for a second time, the jury failing to reach verdicts on the allegations made by two women.
In his first trial, lasting six months and ending in January, he was cleared of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, relating to four other young women or teenagers.