Barcelona Champions League winner spotted living a totally different life - just eight years after he left Nou Camp

He helped the Catalan giants win the Treble under former boss Luis Enrique

A Champions League winner and former Barcelona star has surprised football fans by appearing as a shop assistant in France.

Jeremy Mathieu, 41, enjoyed a wealth of success during his playing career, winning two LaLiga titles, two Spanish Cups, and a Champions League medal during his three-year spell at the Nou Camp between 2014 and 2017.

The centre-back also chalked up five senior caps for France on the international stage, while representing Sochaux, Toulouse, Valencia, Barcelona and Sporting Lisbon at club level.

Now, five years after hanging up his boots at Sporting, Mathieu has remained connected to the sport in a surprising way, working as an employee at French store Intersport.

According to L'Equipe, the former defender works at an Intersport branch situated between Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, working as one of the managers of their football department.

The shop has reportedly received hundreds of calls from football fans asking to visit the store to meet Mathieu, since a photograph of the ex-Barcelona defender wearing company uniform and pictured with customers was shared online.

Former Barcelona defender Jeremy Mathieu (centre) now works as a shop assistant in France

The 41-year-old, right, helped Barcelona win the Treble under Luis Enrique back in 2015 (Mathieu pictured alongside Javier Mascherano, left, after winning the Champions League)

Mathieu, pictured with Luis Suarez, also won two LaLiga titles during his three years at Barca

It is understood Mathieu - who reportedly earned £100,000 per week while at Barcelona - is working at Intersport while training to become a football coach.

Mathieu starred off the bench during Barcelona's Champions League final triumph against Juventus in 2015, helping his side to a 3-1 victory which confirmed an iconic Treble under former manager Luis Enrique.

Although he was primarily used as back-up for first team centre-halves Javier Mascherano and Gerard Pique, the Frenchman's versatility and experience was valued hugely by Enrique, who often used him as cover for Jordi Alba at left-back too.

Despite winning the majority of his honours at Barcelona, Mathieu played much of his career at fellow LaLiga outfit Valencia — where he made 177 appearances in all competitions.

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