Man City react to B. Mendy being found not guilty as lawyer says 'career over'

Manchester City fullback Benjamin Mendy has been found not guilty of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against four young women.

The jury failed to reach verdicts on one count of rape and one of attempted rape and a retrial will take place.

Louis Saha Matturie, 41, was also found not guilty of three counts of rape against two teenagers.

Jurors at Chester Crown Court could not reach verdicts on six other counts by five other women.

Mr Mendy, 28, and his friend Mr Matturie, had been accused of raping women at the player's home in Prestbury, Cheshire, and at a Manchester flat.

Mr Mendy covered his face with both hands as the jury foreman repeated "not guilty" to the six counts.

A statement from Manchester City said: "Given there are open matters related to this case, the club is not in a position to comment further at this time."

The allegations and trial had been "absolute hell" for Mendy, the court heard, with his life in football "over" as he would "never escape" the accusations.

Mendy's lawyer said he was "delighted" to have been cleared of sex attacks on four women and looked forward to clearing his name at a retrial over two other allegations and "rebuilding his life".