Benjamin Mendy’s possible next steps can be revealed after the football star was cleared of charges.
The ex-Manchester City star, who has been released from the club, was accused of attacking two women during lockdown-busting parties.
But he wept tears of joy on Friday as he was cleared of raping a woman at his mansion following a retrial.
Jurors unanimously cleared the 28-year-old of both charges after three hours of deliberation.
Mendy had denied the charges and said the incidents were consensual encounters.
But with the star walking free and looking to rekindle his football career, three possible transfer options can be revealed.
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STAY AT MAN CITY
Mendy last played for Man City on August 15, 2021, during their 1-0 defeat to Tottenham at the start of last season.
But the Premier League champions released him when his contract expired last month.
However, the Frenchman may feel that his time in the Prem is unfinished business after a tumultuous two years.
And he may try to convince gaffer Guardiola to take him back on the books.
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Mendy could also potentially be in line for a bumper pay day from City if he tried to get his back pay after being cleared.
The treble-winners withdrew his salary in September 2021.
But with the star earning around £100k a week, his back pay could amount to an eye-watering £10.4million if successful.
SAUDI PAY DAY
Saudi Arabia have made real waves in the transfer market in the past few months with a string of big money moves.
Several European aces have already moved to Saudi including Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as Prem stars N’Golo Kante, Ruben Neves, and Roberto Firmino.
Jordan Henderson is the latest to be targeted with Al-Ettifaq reportedly prepared to offer him four times his salary in a deal worth £700,000 a week.
And Mendy could well be tempted by any offer of a big payday after not being paid by City for nearly two years.
It also would provide him an escape from the limelight in England after his court case.
With the Frenchman also of Muslim faith, a move to Saudi could make perfect sense as he would settle in with the culture and customs.
GO HOME TO FRANCE
City spent a reported £52million signing Mendy from French side Monaco in 2017.
The transfer fee made him the most expensive defender in football history at the time.
Mendy could well consider a move back to his home country and more familiar surroundings after a stressful two years.
The Frenchman arguably played his best football at Monaco and may want to return.
A World Cup winner with the national side, a warm welcome home may be just what he is looking for.
DARK HORSES
Other less realistic options for Mendy include going abroad to play in the MLS.
Legendary World Cup winner Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets recently rejected Saudi money to make the switch to David Beckham’s Inter Miami.
With a number of ex-European stars playing there such as Lorenzo Insigne and Victor Wanyama, it may be an attractive proposition.
Mendy could also make a move to the US if he fancied the lifestyle or a new experience.
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Or he could earn bags of money playing in Qatar, another Muslim country.
And it should not be ruled out that a European club may take a punt on Mendy later in the window now that he is a free transfer.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
