Just 10 years ago, in the 2014-2015 season, Jérémy Mathieu signed with Barcelona after excelling at Valencia. The Frenchman joined Barça as a specific request from Luis Enrique and, although he did not secure a regular spot in the starting eleven, he was a valuable player frequently used by the Asturian coach in a team that lifted the second treble in its history that season. Today, at 41 years old, Mathieu is back in the headlines after his current profession was revealed: an employee at a sports store in France.
The contrast is, at the very least, curious. The player, with an extensive career in the elite, even making his debut for the French national team ('Les Bleus' in five occasions), has accumulated numerous trophies after his stints in the French, Spanish, and Portuguese leagues, where he retired in 2020.
As expected, the news quickly went viral, and many fans, incredulous, have visited the Intersport store located between Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, where Mathieu works. Among them, a reporter from 'l'Equipe' who confirmed that the photos of Mathieu dressed as a store employee are indeed real and not just a striking resemblance. The French newspaper recently confirmed in a publication that the former defender works at the store as the football section manager.
The reasons why Mathieu ended up working in a position not commonly chosen by former elite footballers remain unknown. It could be due to mismanagement of his earnings as a sportsman, it could have been a lifelong dream, or he simply got bored at home. Only Mathieu knows the real reason, but in the memories of many Barça fans, the goal he scored in March 2015, opening the scoring against Real Madrid in a 'Clásico' won by Barça and securing a league title, will always remain.