Mendy makes his return to football after two years of absence

Benjamin Mendy makes his return to football two years since last playing after being cleared of rape as he comes off the bench for Lorient in Ligue 1. Benjamin Mendy has made his return to football after two years out of the game. The former Manchester City and France defender came off the bench for Lorient as a second-half substitute against ex-side Monaco in Ligue 1. Mendy, 29, had been accused of carrying out sex attacks on two women at his £4million mansion. He was cleared after three hours of deliberation by a jury at Chester Crown Court in July - and broke down in the dock afterward before saying he was 'delighted' with the not-guilty verdicts. He came on as a substitute for Lorient in the 71st minute of their game on Sunday. Mendy signed for Lorient five days after his trial ended in the summer. He signed a two-year deal with the Ligue 1 side following his release from Manchester City, where he made 75 appearances after joining in 2017 for £52million. The last match that the 29-year-old French defender played with his former team, Manchester City, was against his counterpart, Tottenham, in the English Premier League, on August 15, 2021.