Carlos Soler, the 29-year-old Real Sociedad and Spain midfielder (14 caps), spoke to AS in an interview published this Friday. He took the opportunity to reflect on his mixed spell at Paris Saint-Germain (2022-2025, including a loan to West Ham for the 2024-2025 season), the difficulties he encountered in fully expressing himself, and his eventual departure.
Soler: “Playing in other leagues, in other dressing rooms, has taught me a lot.”
Did we see the Soler of Valencia again?
No, because the Carlos Soler of Valencia was a younger, less mature, and less experienced player. It’s true that at my age, I was already the team captain, an important player for several seasons, and I took the plunge by leaving for Paris.
I stayed there for two years, then I went to London, which allowed me to develop further; Perhaps not in terms of playing time – that’s not what I expected when I went to Paris or London – but on every level: getting out of the house, being alone with my partner, having different experiences…
Playing in other leagues, in other dressing rooms, has given me a lot. This version, which I don’t know what to call, “Carlos Soler 3.0,” is nothing like the first one in Valencia. I understand that they’re compared in terms of statistics, minutes played, etc., but I sincerely believe that the current version is an improvement.
Soler: “It was a big change”
What memories does he have of his first days in Paris?
It was a big change because the situation in Valencia wasn’t ideal. We hadn’t participated in a European competition since Marcelino left, and that had been several years. We reached the Copa del Rey final the season before I left, but it’s true that we were practically out of contention for European places.
We weren’t even fighting to avoid relegation; we were mid-table and had nothing important to play for, apart from that Copa del Rey final, which was decided on penalties. So we missed out on a trophy that could have been exceptional.
Soler: “I arrived at a difficult time”
Then came the move to Paris…
I arrived at a difficult time because I left at the very end of the summer transfer window. There was a lot of uncertainty; the transfer only went through at the last minute, and I arrived when PSG had already played five league matches; they had a well-established starting eleven, so it wasn’t easy.
Then there was the World Cup. All the players were focused, we participated in the World Cup and were eliminated, and in both the Champions League and the World Cup, we were eliminated in the round of 16. That first year was a bit of an adjustment period, but in football, if there isn’t time to adapt, at PSG, such a prestigious team that competes for every title, imagine.
Soler: “I hoped things would change.”
That season didn’t work out, and the following season, Luis Enrique arrived, and it’s true that I hoped things would change, that the manager would give me—not necessarily confidence, because I believe confidence has to be reciprocal; you have to trust the coach, and the coach has to give it to you in return, as is the case now—but at least a bit more playing time, because I think I deserved it.
Soler: “That confidence didn’t translate onto the pitch.”
Two years to learn.
At PSG, I spent two seasons. The first was a period of adaptation where many things were beyond my control. I did my best, but I didn’t get the playing time I wanted or hoped for. The second season, with Luis Enrique, a coach who had taken me to the World Cup and given me confidence beforehand, was frustrating because that confidence didn’t translate onto the pitch.
But when you understand your role, you have to accept it. I came from Valencia where I played every match, I was captain, and I was a key player. That wouldn’t be possible at PSG, and it wasn’t. You have to accept that role, be at peace with yourself knowing that you’re giving your best in training, without complaining.
That’s what I take away from it: two seasons of progress, titles, and playing time. It’s not that I didn’t play much, but coming from where I came from, it was obviously insufficient. But that’s how it is. That’s football, and that’s in the past. These are experiences I’m taking with me, and now I’m really enjoying myself here.
And among all the PSG stars, Mbappé.
I really appreciate him, and I don’t know if he’s the best player in the world, but he’s definitely in the top three. Of all the players I’ve played with, he’s one of the best, along with Messi and Neymar. Ultimately, when you play for a club like PSG, the pressure is enormous, and you’re surrounded by players of an exceptional caliber.
Soler: “Of course, it’s frustrating.”
If the Carlos Soler of today could give one piece of advice to the player who packed his bags for France, what would it be?
I would perhaps encourage him to be more individualistic, to think more about the team, because I’m convinced I can play in almost any position. At Valencia, I started as a winger, then I moved into the center. I played attacking midfielder, number 8, number 6, and even full-back at PSG under Luis Enrique, without it being a problem. I don’t regret being that young player who gives his all in training and who, even if he’s not playing, keeps training.
Of course, it’s frustrating, because every player aspires to play, but perhaps he could show a bit more of a competitive spirit. It’s not selfishness, but ultimately, at a club, if you don’t have absolute confidence in yourself, because you’re not playing as much as you’d like or hoped for before you arrived, the club will exploit you.
Soler: “I would tell Carlos to trust himself.”
A huge request.
In the end, I was lucky to have excellent teammates who played a lot, like Vitinha, whose first season was also a period of adjustment. He also faced criticism, but over time, he proved he was one of the best in the world. There’s also Fabián, who arrived at the same time as me.
At first, we alternated playing time, but then he started playing more, and now he’s in the national team, whereas before it was my turn. The competition is fierce, like at Real Madrid or Barcelona, where it’s omnipresent.
You can imagine that she’s just as intense in the PSG midfield. I would tell Carlos to trust himself, that if what he did at Valencia and with the national team worked back then, it will work at PSG too; to have absolute confidence in himself.
Marcelino wanted him for Villarreal this summer…
They contacted me a few days before my arrival, and then there were unforeseen events in the world of football, in the transfer market, and ultimately I signed for Real Sociedad, which was really my first choice because I think it’s the ideal environment for me. Thanks to God and hard work, it’s paying off, both personally and collectively.
