Manchester City and France footballer Benjamin Mendy has began his trial for the alleged rape and assault of seven women.
Gatekeepers News reports that the 28-year old who arrived at Chester Crown Court in northwest England wearing a dark blue suit and tie on Wednesday, could see his playing career end in jail if convicted.
Mendy is facing eight counts of rape, one count of sexual assault and one count of attempted rape, relating to seven young women.
The French man who had pleaded not guilty to the nine charges in May, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to a subsequent rape count that had not yet been put to him in court.
All the alleged offences are said to have taken place at Mendy’s home address in Prestbury near Macclesfield, also in northwest England, between October 2018 and August last year.
The footballer is standing trial before a jury along with his co-defendant Louis Saha Matturie who has also pleaded not guilty.
Matturie also denies eight counts of rape and four counts of sexual assault, relating to eight young women. His alleged offences span from July 2012 to August last year.
The two defendants are on bail, with Mendy subject to what a judge earlier called “stringent” conditions, including the surrender of his passport.
After his arrest last August he was initially held at Altcourse prison in Liverpool, and then a prison in Manchester, before being freed on bail in January.
The trial is due to last 15 weeks, with the prosecution set to open its case on Monday.
In 2017, Mendy joined Premier League champions City from the French side of Monaco. He has played 75 times for the Manchester club, however, his playing time was limited by injuries and a loss of form.
He was suspended by City after being charged by police in August.
