A former Manchester City player has been photographed flogging fishing gear and accessories to holidaymakers on a beach. Nery Castillo, whose short-lived stint in the Premier League is now a distant memory, is barely recognisable these days.

The ex-Mexico international recently shared a snap on Instagram posing with tennis icon Novak Djokovic. Sporting a red quarter-zip emblazoned with the badge of Greek side Olympiacos and white shorts, Castillo bore little resemblance to the player Sven-Goran Eriksson brought to the Etihad on loan back in 2008. The striker's European adventure began with Olympiacos, Greece's most decorated club. After becoming a crowd favourite and helping secure three successive league championships, he earned a lucrative switch to Ukrainian heavyweights Shakhtar Donetsk, becoming the most expensive signing in Ukrainian football history at the time.

City then snapped him up on loan in December 2007. His spell with the Blues totalled just nine appearances, seven of which came in the Premier League.

His arrival raised eyebrows as, in a remarkably unusual arrangement, he personally funded half the loan fee. Eriksson later recalled: "He was desperate to come to us, desperate to come to England, desperate to come to the Premier League."

Bad luck befell Castillo in his maiden home outing for the club when he was carried off after just 32 minutes with a broken shoulder. He did feature for City again, with his last appearance coming in the notorious 8-1 thrashing at Middlesbrough in 2008.

Following his brief spell in England, Castillo returned to Shakhtar before embarking on several loan spells, including stints at Ukrainian outfit Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and MLS side Chicago Fire. He concluded his playing days at Spanish club Rayo Vallecano.

His international career proved contentious. After turning up late to a 2009 training camp, Castillo found himself at loggerheads with the Mexican press, who called into question his dedication and physical condition.

During a tense exchange, Castillo remarked: "The difference is that I am in Europe and you are in Mexico, and you will always remain in Mexico."

The remark sparked outrage among the Mexican public and journalists, who branded Castillo arrogant and accused him of 'malinchismo' - a Mexican expression describing an excessive preference for American or European culture, often linked to a type of national self-loathing.

Given such an eventful career, it's hardly surprising that Castillo has chosen a tranquil existence on an Athenian beach. He now trades in fishing gear and supplies in the city, while also operating a shop on the Fournoi islands.

Djokovic has settled in Athens with his family and is known to frequent the beaches surrounding the capital. The Serbian star, who recently claimed his 101st tennis title, is taking some well-earned rest before the Australian Open in January.