Julian Draxler, now in Qatar, reflected on his time at Paris Saint-Germain on the Qatar Stars League’s QSL Chats program. The former German international, who played for Wolfsburg and then Benfica Lisbon, describes his Parisian years as the most exciting of his career and speaks fondly of the arrival of Neymar and the genius of Lionel Messi.
Draxler: “It was a big step for me to leave Wolfsburg”
“It was a big step for me to leave Wolfsburg, a small club in a small city, for a city like Paris and such a prestigious club. I would say I had the most exciting years of my career at PSG, without a doubt. When you play for big clubs like PSG or even Benfica, you’re there to win titles.”
Draxler: “I always choose Messi”
These clubs always expect to win and be the best in their country. So, you don’t really have a choice: you have to play to win. I always choose Messi, because for me, he’s the best player of all time. But I also have to say that when Neymar joined PSG in 2017, it was something unique. It was crazy.”
Julian Draxler perfectly embodies the paradox of the nonchalant genius. Natural talent, silky touch, rare vision: everything seemed easy for him. But behind this nonchalant style hid a deeply sensitive player, more artist than warrior. At Paris Saint-Germain, he found a playing field that suited him: a club of stars, passion, and light. There, Draxler rubbed shoulders with Neymar, whom he describes as a “unique” phenomenon, and participated in PSG’s golden years, between European finals, domestic titles, and the global explosion of the club’s image.
Always elegant, often underestimated, the German is remembered as a player both discreet and refined, happy to have experienced this pinnacle of modern football, without ever denying his calm temperament in a world where everything moved quickly. His words exude the gratitude of a man aware of having touched greatness, without ever seeking to dominate it.
