Judge Patrick Thompson ruled during a hearing at Crown Court in Chester (north-west England) to release the 2018 world champion, who had been in pre-trial detention since the end of August.

The 27-year-old, who appeared in a black suit and white shirt, will therefore be able to leave Manchester men's high security prison where he was recently transferred, pending trial .

The latter was postponed until the summer (June 27 at the earliest) after being initially scheduled for January 24.

However, another preliminary hearing was held on that date, where his release will be reviewed.

In the meantime, Benjamin Mendy will have to reside at his home and hand over his passport.

He does not have the right to contact the complainants.

Manchester French defender Benjamin Mendy warming up before a Champions League match against Atalanta Bergamo on October 22, 2019 in Manchester Oli SCARFF AFP / Archives

The French international is targeted by seven counts of rape on four women and one count of sexual assault on a fifth, for facts which would extend between October 2020 and August 2021.

- Expensive transfer -

The case started at the end of August when the Manchester City club announced the player's suspension without further explanation.

English justice then quickly announced that the player had been remanded in custody after being accused of four rapes - including one committed a few days earlier, while on parole - and sexual assault, by three women including a minor.

These first events are said to have taken place at his home in Prestbury, Cheshire.

Three more rape charges were then added, bringing the total to seven.

At Friday's hearing, another man, Louis Saha Matturie, unrelated to former footballer Louis Saha and whose ties to Mendy are unclear, also appeared.

The 40-year-old man, so far prosecuted for six rapes and one sexual assault which took place between March and August 2021, now sees his charges escalate with rape and further sexual assault, said Thursday. Attorney Ian Unsworth.

The request for release on bail of Mr. Matturie, who will appear next week on these new charges, has not yet been examined.

Trained in Le Havre, revealed in Marseille and spent a season in Monaco, Benjamin Mendy had become the most expensive defender in history in 2017 when the Citizens had spent 52 million pounds (about 60 million euros) to tie up its services.

Manchester City French defender Benjamin Mendy on November 4, 2018 in the Premier League at home against Southampton Paul ELLIS AFP / Archives

When he arrived at City, where he had a year and a half left on his contract, he was considered one of the great French and world hopes as left-back.

But the career of the 27-year-old has been hampered for four years by injuries.

The sum paid was never justified, the international spending more time in the infirmary treating his knees and muscle problems than kicking a ball, even though he is part of the world champion group in 2018 in Russia with the Blues (10 caps).

His life off the pitch was not always exemplary either, with the ruthless English tabloids reveling in the fall of 2020 by the seizure of his Lamborghini, worth more than 500,000 euros, which he was driving without a license. nor insurance.

In this case, he pleaded guilty and was fined just over 1,000 euros.

The facts which are now accused him could well put a definitive stop to his career.

The maximum penalty he faces, if he pleads not guilty, is life imprisonment.

© 2022 AFP