He was found to be not guilty and was then cleared — Deschamps on Mendy's return to France team

France national team manager Didier Deschamps has stated that Benjamin Mendy is not untouchable, suggesting that he will pick him should he merit it.  

The 29-year-old left-back was arrested and charged with multiple counts of sexual crimes, leading him to be suspended from his football club at the time, Manchester City. 

He was, however, cleared of all wrongdoing by the Chester Crown Court last month, and although his Man City contract officially expired before he was cleared, he has been signed by Ligue 1 side Lorient. 

Mendy last played professionally in 2021 and has yet to play for his new team. He also last represented Les Bleus in November 2019 in a European Championships qualifier clash against Albania.

Despite Mendy still being viewed through the lenses of the crimes he was accused of by sections of the public, Deschamps rejects the idea that he is a pariah, stating that the court ruling should be respected. 

Mendy was a member of the France squad that won the World Cup in 2018, and Deschamps refused to rule him out of making a return in the future. 

“English authorities have done their investigation. He was found to be not guilty and was then cleared,” he said, per GFFN.

“From the moment justice systems found him not guilty, I can’t see why I should consider him non-selectable. Although his return is not on the agenda.“

It remains to be seen if the left-back can return to his pre-suspension form, and given the currency competition in the position with the rise of the Hernandez brothers, Lucas Digne, Ferland Mendy, and even Eduardo Camavinga, who has been trusted in the position at the biggest stage, Deschamps might not even have to consider Benjamin.