AS Monaco left-back Benjamin Mendy has reportedly agreed personal terms with Manchester City after snubbing approaches from Chelsea and Liverpool.
While a fee is still to be agreed between the two clubs, Mendy is said to have informed the Ligue 1 champions of his decision to leave.
The 22-year-old is convinced that City is the best place for him at the moment and is eager to work with Pep Guardiola.
Mendy was one of the best players in a hugely impressive Monaco side last season but probably not one of the most high-profile ones.
Here, we take a look at five things you may not have known about the Frenchman.
Mendy has something in common with another Frenchman currently plying his trade in Manchester. Growing up in Longjumeau, in Southern Paris, Mendy came through the famed Le Havre youth academy, just like Paul Pogba.
The left-back went on to make his senior debut with the second tier side, racking up 57 appearances for the first team before joining Marseille.
The modern day full-back has to be among the fittest players on the pitch and Mendy has taken measures to make sure hes up there with the best.
According to former team-mate at Marseille Brice Samba, the biggest change the left-back made to facilitate his development was pay heed to 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.
Mendy loves his time off and has even ventured as far as the middle-east.
He was in the United Arab Emirates just last month and on June 23 uploaded a picture on his Instagram account outside the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.
Mendy is a bit of a joker and has taken it upon himself to welcome Mbappe to the senior squad with a bit of friendly banter.
The defender has repeatedly made fun of the 18-year-old’s age.
When a journalist observed on Twitter that Mbappe hadn’t celebrated with his team-mates on one occasion, Mendy replied, “He has school tomorrow.”
When asked in an interview if he was impressed with the youngster, he answered that he was good at playing Playstation.
Arguably the best full-back in the game, even touted for a Ballon d’Or nomination, Mendy couldn’t have picked a better role model in Real Madrid’s Marcelo.
The young defender is in awe of the 29-year-old Brazilian, who he believes to possess the perfect balance between defence and attack.
“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 told Le Parisien.
