Woman denies she was 'quite excited' to meet footballer Benjamin Mendy as she accuses his friend of sexual assault

A woman who has claimed she was sexually assaulted by a friend of ex-Manchester City player Benjamin Mendy denied she was 'quite excited' to meet the footballer. Louis Saha Matturie, an associate of Mr Mendy, is currently on trial and denies sexual offences alleged by three separate women.

One complainant, known as Woman Three, has claimed that she was sexually assaulted by the 42-year-old after being invited to a party at Mr Mendy's home in Cheshire. She has alleged that Mr Matturie took hold of her legs and tried to pull her towards him, while trying to kiss her.

The pair were in a car together after driving to a nearby shop to buy alcohol and food, Chester Crown Court heard. Mr Matturie denies that the alleged assault occurred.

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Woman Three was cross-examined by Mr Matturie's barrister, as the trial entered a third week. She told jurors that she was invited to a party in July 2021 through a friend, and said she didn't know who Mr Mendy was.

At the time he played for Manchester City. A professional chef was preparing food for people at the party, jurors have heard.

"I had to Google who he was," she said. "Were you quite excited to be going to his house?," defence barrister Lisa Wilding KC asked.

"For the food," Woman Three said. "I couldn't care less about footballers. I have no interest unless it's Steven Gerrard or someone like that."

Jurors heard that later that evening, Mr Matturie asked her to accompany him to a nearby shop to buy alcohol and food. She agreed and Mr Matturie drove there before returning to Mr Mendy's home.

Woman Three has alleged that Mr Matturie sexually