10 Pro Evolution Soccer Legends Who Flopped In Real Life
3. Bernard Mendy
When Hull City announced the signing of Bernard Mendy in June 2008, Pro Evolution Soccer fans were almost as excited as Tigers supporters over the news.
For years, they had taken control of him at Paris Saint-Germain on the Konami football sim. Mendy’s preferred position on the game was full-back, but his impressive attributes made him an effective winger able bomb up and down the wing without tiring.
In that sense, he was something akin to France’s answer to Javier Zanetti. Well, in the game at least.
What PES fans probably didn’t realise was that the Mendy who joined Hull was not the one who had rocked up as PSG from Caen all those years ago.
That Mendy made an electric start to life with the capital club where his strength, stamina and love of attacking shone through. Those first few seasons saw him earn a France call-up and a Coupe de la Ligue title – won via Mendy’s decisive spot kick in the final.
Rumours persist that Sir Alex Ferguson wanted to sign Mendy at Manchester United only for the Frenchman to decide to remain in France.
As time wore on at PSG, however, Mendy’s performances began to be characterised by great attacking play but very bad defending and costly errors.
While the Mendy of PES Master League improved exponentially with age, the real one got worse. Relegated with Hull, Mendy went on to endure spells in Denmark, Cyprus and India before hanging up his boots for good.