Benjamin Mendy has pleaded not guilty to rape in a UK court

Innocentthe 27-year-old French international has been repeated several times in court in Chester, England, denying seven rapes, the attempted rape and the sexual assault for which he was accused by six women.

The rest of the hearing took place behind closed doors.

The nine counts against Mendy relate to events allegedly taking place between October 2018 and August 2021 at his home in Prestbury, Cheshire.

After spending several months in pre-trial detention, the 2018 world champion was released in early January and placed under judicial supervision, pending his trial scheduled to open on July 25.

The case began at the end of August 2021 when the Manchester City club announced the player’s suspension, under contract until June 2023, without further explanation.

English justice then quickly announced that the player had been placed in pre-trial detention after being accused of four rapes and one sexual assault, by three women, including a minor. Other charges are added.

At the dock at the trial was another man, Louis Saha Matturie, 40, who had no relationship with former soccer player Louis Saha. Links to Mendy are not clearly established.

Prosecuted for eight rapes and four sexual assaults on eight women between July 2012 and August 2021, she also pleaded not guilty on Monday.

Trained at Le Havre, declared in Marseille and spent a season in Monaco, Mendy became the most expensive defender in history, in 2017, when the Citizens paid 52 million pounds (C $ 83.6 million at current prices) to secure his services.

When he came to Manchester City, he was considered one in France and around the world with great left-back hopes. But the 27 -year -old’s career has been hampered by four years of injuries.

The amount paid was never justified, the international spending more time in the infirmary treating his knee and muscle problems than kicking the ball, even though he was part of the group of 2018 world champions in Russia with the Blues (10 options).