The report says the replica trophy from France’s triumph was sold at auction for £46,270, a striking symbol of how far Mendy’s circumstances have shifted. His career, once tied to the glamour and pressure of Manchester City, was interrupted by a lengthy court process. The same report says he was acquitted of all charges in 2023 after leaving City at the end of his contract.
That does not erase the damage done to his football life. For some players, the hardest part is not simply returning to the pitch - it is returning to the version of themselves they once were.
Since leaving City, Mendy has taken a far less glamorous route. The report says he moved first to Lorient, then to FC Zurich, before signing for Pogon Szczecin in 2025.
That path tells its own story:
For a player once viewed among Europe’s best in his position, that is a stark change.
Jurys’ second observation is just as revealing: “He's often used in marketing activities. He doesn't play much, so the club uses him in different ways off the pitch.”
That sounds like a player whose value now stretches beyond team sheets. Experience, name recognition and mentoring can still matter, especially at a club balancing performance with profile.
The next question is whether Mendy can turn this lower-profile chapter into something steadier on the pitch. At Pogon Szczecin, the next storyline is simple: can he become more than a name from a previous life?