After signing Bernardo Silva from Monaco earlier this summer, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are set to raid the French champions once more, this time to claim the services of left-back Benjamin Mendy.
Over the course of the last year, the 22-year-old has come into his own for the Stade Louis II outfit, catching the eye particularly with his offensive game. He might have been the only regular member of Monaco’s outfield unit who failed to score a Ligue 1 goal in 2016-17, but the defender was an impressive force nevertheless, largely because his crossing was so regularly perfect.
He is a player capable of generating a terrific amount of excitement – “I was lucky to make an assist in my second professional match and it’s not stopped from there,” he said – but he was also vital to Monaco away from the field and will be sorely missed in the principality.
Here are five things every City fan should know about a player expected to sign up for them soon:
#1 He is the life and soul of the dressing room
Mendy is not only a sprightly character on the field, he is equally lively in the changing room. The defender was Monaco’s practical joker last season, often found up to pranks, such as putting ice cubes in his team-mates’ socks.
He has the habit of winding his fellow professionals up on social media, too. “Mbappe was not keen to go and celebrate with his team-mates after winning the title,” one journalist tweeted. “And that’s not a joke.”
Mendy replied in a deadpan manner: “He has school tomorrow.”
Also read: 5 defenders who made a name for themselves this season
In another interview, he was asked if he was impressed with the youngster, to which he replied: “Frankly? On the PlayStation he’s really good.”
He also joked that the young striker would have been disappointed after completing a perfect season on the field by ‘only’ getting a mark of 19/20 from one of his exams.
Additionally, he is the dressing room DJ at Monaco, playing tunes by Belgian rapper Le Dé to celebrate winning Le Championnat.
#2 He has a special relationship with Falcao
Radamel Falcao benefited immensely from the presence of Mendy on the left last season, but the Colombian was experienced and smart enough to realise before the campaign even started that he could benefit from his team-mate’s deliveries.
Indeed, the former Manchester United and Chelsea man sought him out to devise a system so the two could link more effectively on the field – and it reaped tremendous dividends.
“He had the good idea to come to see me at the beginning of the season so we could invent a code to help me know where to place my crosses,” he said.
Additionally, Falcao’s words helped inspire the whole team to glory.
“I remember what he told us before the preliminary round of the Champions League last summer. He said that Atletico did not have the best players, but because of their desire and heart, they had one of the best teams. Today we can see the cause and effect of their journey,” Mendy remembered.
#3 He was told to learn from two unlikely sources
Marcelo Bielsa had a great influence on Mendy’s career, as the Argentine has done on so many who have gone through his tutorage, most notably Dimitri Payet.
When the former Athletic Bilbao boss took charge of Marseille, he found Mendy a young player who did not always have his thoughts on the game and told him to look to Jeremy Morel and Rod Fanni for inspiration. Both were mocked in France for their limited abilities, but the youngster took the coach’s words to heart and has reaped the benefits since.
“I’ve seen people joke about it,” he told Onze. “But Bielsa was serious. These are two experienced players and have played for several clubs. Away from the field they’re professionals but before I was not.
“During training, young players often say: ‘No, I already know how to do it, so I won’t do it thoroughly.’
“But that’s not the right attitude. Always give everything. And by doing the maximum, you get to go higher.”
#4 A dietician has revolutionised him
It’s the small percentages that add up to make a big difference at the top level of sport, with friend and former team-mate at Marseille, Brice Samba, suggesting that one lifestyle choice has made a big difference to the left-back – bringing in a dietician.
“Since he joined Monaco, he’s notably got someone to help him with his food. It’s one detail among others,” the goalkeeper told Le Parisien.
“He has all the quality of a modern full-back and his strength is his carefree attitude. But that does not prevent him wanting to progress.”
#5 Marcelo is his role model
Real Madrid possess arguably the best left-back in the game today in the form of Marcelo, and Mendy looks up to the 29-year-old Brazilian for his inspiration.
A three-time Champions League winner and four-time Spanish title holder, there are few better players to learn from, with Marcelo having apparently struck the perfect balance between attack and defence, a equilibrium that Mendy admits that he is still lacking.
“I watch his control, his crossing and I like his defensive qualities. That’s something I miss, to be a little more defensive in my soul. Leonardo Jarim often takes me aside at training to insist upon it,” Mendy admitted to Le Parisien.
