Jérémy Mathieu has explained that his decision to work at an Intersport store was driven by a need for social interaction while navigating personal legal and mental health challenges.
Former Barcelona defender Jérémy Mathieu, who won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2015, has clarified his transition to working as a shop assistant.
The 42-year-old former France international revealed he is currently managing personal legal issues.
“If I’m working at Intersport, it’s because something’s going on that’s causing me a lot of problems,” Mathieu stated, noting, “It was to have a social life.”
The former defender, who also battled depression following his 2023 retirement, found the position through a former teammate.
Mathieu admitted, “He knew I wanted to leave the house for a bit.”
While he remains focused on resolving his current situation, he fondly recalled his playing days, humorously claiming, “I think I was better at free-kicks than him [Lionel Messi]!”