Former Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy has been cleared of rape for the second time as well as attempted rape following a not-guilty verdict by the jury at the Chester Crown Court on Friday.

Mendy, 28, broke down in tears as the not-guilty verdict was read by the jury foreman, to conclude the high-profile three-week trial.

The France international was accused of attacking a 24-year-old woman at his £4m mansion in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire in October 2020, as well as attempted rape of another woman aged 29, who claimed to have been assaulted by the player at his home two years earlier.

The jury of six men and six women deliberated for about three hours and 15 minutes before reaching their conclusion. A posture of relief overcame the defender as Judge Steven Everett declared that: “Mr. Mendy can be discharged from the dock.”

The ruling comes months after the footballer was acquitted of six rape charges earlier in the year.

Mendy whose contract with Manchester City expired this July, was however forced to face a re-trial after jurors reportedly failed to reach a verdict on two counts of rape and attempted rape.

“Benjamin Mendy would like to thank the members of the jury for focusing on the evidence in this trial, rather than on the rumour and innuendo that have followed this case from the outset. This is the second time that Mr. Mendy has been tried and found not guilty by a jury. He is delighted that both juries reached the correct verdicts,” said his attorney Jenny Wiltshire following the verdict.

She said Mr. Mendy had “tried to remain strong” but the process had “inevitably had a serious impact on him”.

In conclusion, Mendy’s attorney noted that he is requesting privacy to begin rebuilding his life.