From Camp Nou to Intersport: The Unlikely Journey of Jeremy Mathieu
Former Barcelona and France defender Jeremy Mathieu, once a teammate of football legend Lionel Messi, now finds himself working in a retail environment at an Intersport sporting goods store. The 42-year-old, who made a shock £15.8 million move to Camp Nou in 2014, has experienced a dramatic shift in his life trajectory since retiring from professional football in 2020.
A Career of Highs and Lows
Mathieu began his career with Sochaux before moving to Toulouse and then signing with Spanish club Valencia in 2009. At Valencia, he established himself as a crucial first-team player, making over 170 appearances. His transfer to Barcelona in 2014 saw him become part of a historic treble-winning team, although he remained more of a fringe player during his time at the club.
After a successful stint with Sporting CP, Mathieu was forced to end his career at age 36 in 2020. His post-football life has taken an unexpected turn, with images of him working at an Intersport store near Marseille going viral last year.
Mental Health Battles and Legal Issues
In a candid interview with beIN Sports, Mathieu revealed the reasons behind his retail work. "If I'm working at Intersport, it's because something's going on that's causing me quite a few problems. I can only say that I'm in the middle of a lawsuit," he stated.
The former France international also admitted to suffering from depression, explaining: "I tried to stay involved in football, like everyone else. In amateur football. I won't do it (work at Intersport) forever. I do it to have a social life and see people."
Mathieu was notified of the Intersport position by Loic Loval-Landre, a former teammate from Sochaux's academy. "He knew I wanted to get out of the house a bit. I hadn't been doing anything for a while. During a conversation he told me, 'There's a job opening up,'" Mathieu recalled.
The Free-Kick Claim That Made Headlines
Less than a decade ago, Mathieu was training alongside Lionel Messi at Barcelona. The French defender once quipped that he could outperform the Argentine magician when it came to set-pieces. "Lionel Messi was incredible. You couldn't do anything in training. [But] I think I was a better free-kick taker than him," Mathieu stated.
To his credit, Mathieu was indeed adept at striking the ball and scored several free-kicks during his career, including a memorable goal against Elche in 2015.
The Barcelona Recruitment Story
Mathieu also shared an interesting anecdote about his recruitment to Barcelona. He recalled being approached by head coach Luis Enrique before Enrique had even taken the Barcelona job. "[Enrique said], 'I love how you play.' 'If I'm the coach, I want you on the team.' I didn't want to say, 'Wait, because for now you're not Barcelona's coach.' I thought, 'Let's see if he's selling a dream,'" Mathieu explained.
He continued: "I wanted to play. What do I do? Do I start from scratch only to be on the bench? I was hesitating. If they (Valencia) had [matched Barcelona's contract offer], I would have stayed. They told me they couldn't, so I left."
The transition from professional football to retail work represents a monumental shift for Mathieu, highlighting the challenges many athletes face after their playing careers end. His story serves as a reminder of the importance of mental health support for former professionals navigating life after sport.
