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Return of the Pap: A look at Leicester City’s Nampalys Mendy

By Andy Bisnos

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JULY 21: Nampalys Mendy of Leicester City looks on durng the pre-season friendly match between Notts County and Leicester City at Meadow Lane on July 21, 2018 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JULY 21: Nampalys Mendy of Leicester City looks on durng the pre-season friendly match between Notts County and Leicester City at Meadow Lane on July 21, 2018 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) /
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ROME, ITALY – NOVEMBER 02: Alessandro Murgia of SS Lazio competes for the ball with Nampalys Mendy of OGC Nice during the UEFA Europa League group K match between SS Lazio and OGC Nice at Stadio Olimpico on November 2, 2017 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – NOVEMBER 02: Alessandro Murgia of SS Lazio competes for the ball with Nampalys Mendy of OGC Nice during the UEFA Europa League group K match between SS Lazio and OGC Nice at Stadio Olimpico on November 2, 2017 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) /

AS Monaco 

On 27th April 2010, Mendy signed his first professional contract for AS Monaco aged just 17, made his debut four months later in August.

The young Frenchman stayed at Monaco for three more seasons, and played a key part in the 2012/13 as his side were promoted to the Ligue 1 under the guidance of manager Claudio Ranieri.

OGC Nice

The French media were comparing Mendy to a young Claude Makelele and there were links with both Arsenal and Manchester United, but after meeting with the then OGC Nice manager Claude Puel, he decided to sign for the Les Aiglons.

He was almost an ever-present for three seasons at Nice, starting 110 matches. As shown below, Mendy’s key attribute is passing. In his final season (2015/16), he had the highest amount of passes and highest pass completion percentage of any player outside of champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Nice finished the season in fouth place, securing European football for the 2016/17 season. Mendy’s predominant position was in the centre of a midfield three.