The ex-City defender now plays for Lorient in FranceCredit: Getty

As he chases up to £10m of back pay from his old club and while rebuilding his career at French Ligue 1 club Lorient, Mendy has now reduced the asking price to £4.25million.

It comes as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is seeking a bankruptcy order against the footballer over a nearly £800,000 tax debt.

The house is described by estate agents as “one of the finest contemporary homes in Cheshire”.

The 11,000sq-ft residence is set in over 1.75 acres of grounds and boasts six bedroom suites, an open plan living area, games room, home cinema, swimming pool, steam room, gym and spa.

It was bought by Mendy from cricketing legend Andrew Flintoff in 2018 for £4.8million.

Flintoff, who never lived at the house, bought it for £1.8million in 2008 and spent two years rebuilding the property – before renting it out.

His tenants included former footballer Peter Crouch and wife Abbey Clancy.

The former Man City star was already a millionaire when he joined from Monaco in 2017 on a six-year contract.

His deal guaranteed him a basic £100,000-a-week salary and up to £170,000 with bonuses.

But instead of pocketing £31.2million, he ended up fighting bankruptcy after his 2020 arrest for rape.

He was cleared of raping a woman following a retrial in July.

Jurors unanimously cleared him of both charges after three hours of deliberation.

But despite going free, he was forced to close his image rights company after being chased for unpaid tax.

The footballer took a huge financial hit after being charged in 2021, with City stopping his salary the following month.

6The sprawling property boasts a luxurious interiorCredit: Savills6Peter Crouch was a former tenant at the mansionCredit: Savills6The property is worth millionsCredit: Savills6There is even a home cinema at the swanky padCredit: Savills