Nice's Antoine Mendy Suffers Serious Knee Injury

What began as a frustrating draw has turned into a brutal setback for Nice. Defender Antoine Mendy has suffered a torn cruciate ligament in his left knee, an injury that will sideline the Senegal international for several months.

The confirmation came on Sunday after scans revealed the full damage from an incident that immediately alarmed the club’s medical staff. During the 1-1 draw with Le Mans, Mendy landed awkwardly on his left leg and went down in obvious pain. The initial reaction on the bench said plenty; the tests have now underlined the worst-case scenario.

Mendy had been sent on late, entering the match with around 15 minutes to play, tasked with shoring things up and helping Nice close out the result. He never made it to the final whistle. Instead, he left the Allianz Riviera in clear distress, clutching his knee as he was helped from the pitch.

The draw already felt like two points dropped. By the end of the weekend, it looked far worse. Nice have not only seen a win slip away, they have lost a defender for a long stretch at a key point in the season.

The club has not pinned down an exact return date. That will hinge on the course of his treatment and how his rehabilitation unfolds over the coming weeks and months. What is certain is that Nice must now plan without Mendy for a significant period – and quickly find answers in his absence.