Former Barcelona defender Jeremy Mathieu: ‘I took free kicks better than Messi’ | OneFootball

Former Barcelona defender Jeremy Mathieu has revisited one of the most important chapters of his career. 

Speaking on the SafePlay program (h/t SPORT), the Frenchman reflected on his transfer to Barça in 2014, the doubts he had before signing, and the unforgettable moments he experienced at Camp Nou.

Mathieu joined Barcelona after a strong spell at Valencia, where he had become captain and a key figure. 

The turning point came after a match when Luis Enrique approached him personally. Recalling that first contact, Mathieu revealed exactly what the Spanish coach told him.

“I love how you play. And if I’m the coach, I want you on the team,” revealed the former defender.

He took his time

Despite the flattering words, Mathieu admitted he did not immediately allow himself to believe the move would happen. 

At the time, Luis Enrique had not yet officially taken charge of Barcelona.

“I didn’t want to say to him: wait, because you’re not the Barcelona coach yet. I thought: let’s see if he sells me a dream and then he’s not there,” he noted.

Throughout the summer, meetings between Mathieu and Barcelona continued. Yet the decision was far from simple. 

At 30 years old, he was an established leader at Valencia and unsure whether starting again at a club like Barça would reduce his role.

“I wanted to play. What do I do? Do I start from scratch to go to the bench? I was hesitating.”

Financial pull

Jeremy Mathieu has made a bold claim. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Before finalising the transfer, Mathieu had a direct conversation with Valencia, as Barcelona were offering him a salary increase of €200,000 per year. 

He told the club that if they matched that offer, he would stay. Valencia declined, explaining they could not afford the raise.

“If they gave me that, I would stay. They told me they couldn’t, so I left,” he revealed.

Once at Barcelona, Mathieu was quickly welcomed into the dressing room by Gerard Pique and his former Valencia teammate Jordi Alba. 

But what truly left an impression on him was training alongside Lionel Messi. “Messi was incredible. In training, you couldn’t do anything.”

He also recalled the famous Champions League comeback against Paris Saint-Germain, describing the atmosphere inside Camp Nou that night.

“It was magical. The temperature was rising as the game progressed, and that night was perfect.”

Then came the unexpected comment that made headlines. Smiling during the interview, Mathieu made a bold claim.

“I think I was a better free-kick taker than Messi,” he added.

Whether serious or joking, the remark has certainly sparked conversation among fans.