FORMER Premier League star Benjamin Mendy has been given more time to clear a £800,000 tax debt and avoid bankruptcy.
The one time Man City defender, 29 — last year cleared of rape and sexual assault — is hoping to sell his mansion.
A hearing at the High Court was told the pad in Macclesfield, Cheshire, has had a price cut from £5million to £3.8million.
A sale is expected in the next eight weeks.
Louis Doyle KC, for Mendy, said: “He wants to get rid of this debt as quickly as possible.”
He continued: “If we get 10 weeks down the line and it is still not sold, I accept I might have a very different fight on my hands.”
The court also heard Mr Mendy is bringing legal action against former club Manchester City after they stopped paying him when he was charged with rape back in 2021.
The player was cleared of rape and attempted rape at Chester Crown Court.
Mr Doyle said that Mendy being made bankrupt could have a “potentially catastrophic impact” on his claim which is due to go into mediation later in the year.
At a previous hearing, Mendy said he would pay HMRC £20,000 a month from his salary at new club Lorient in France, which he has not done.
Judge Joseph Curl KC adjourned the case for 12 weeks to allow for the sale of the house but said he was “troubled” by Mendy’s failure to pay the monthly bill.
