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| Jeremy Mathieu in action for Barcelona |
After a difficult start to the 2016/2017 that was filled with injury problems and lack of playing time, Barcelona defender Jeremy Mathieu is definitely nearing his end at Camp Nou and might just be on his way out of the club sooner rather than later.
Mathieu has been one of Luis Enrique’s major backup players since his signing in 2014 but so far this season, the Frenchman has not found favour in the eyes of the Asturian manager which gives a slight hint that he might be using the exit door anytime soon.
Jeremy Mathieu has featured in just six games for Barça this season altogether making 421 minutes of football in all competitions. Two of these were in the Spaanish Super Cup and a 30-minute cameo in the UCL against Manchester City that saw him get sent off. He started four games in the league out of which Barça lost two.
Mathieu has been hit with injuries this season, he just recovered from his third injury this season and was given the medical greenlight but despite that, Luis Enrique did not feature him in the squad for the last two games.
One can say Luis Enrique has lost his trust in him and with Piqué, Mascherano and Umtiti available in that central defence position, it is very unlikely Mathieu will get a place, especially now that Luis Enrique is expressing his love for B player Marlon Santos. The same applies at Mathieu’s other position, Digne and Jordi Alba are in a healthy competition for that Leftback spot.
Reports in the last few weeks emerged that Mathieu has put his house in Barcelona up for sale as he is unsure about his future at the club.
Mathieu signed for Barça in 2014 for 20 million Euros and played a part in the club’s road to the treble that season. His contract comes to an end in 2018. He’s 33 and has shown nothing but inconsistency of recent and his last game for the club dates back to October 2017. He is more out than in and may be heading to the Ligue 1 or Asia if a lucrative bid from China arrives.
