Julian Draxler (31 years old), former Paris Saint-Germain attacking midfielder, spoke to Le Parisien about his career and his current life. Having left to play in Qatar after six seasons in Paris, the German international explained why this career choice, sometimes criticized, now allows him to find a personal and family balance.
Draxler: “I understand people who say: it’s a shame”
“If someone had told me, when I started off so well with PSG, that I would be playing in Qatar at 29, I wouldn’t have believed it. I understand people who say: it’s a shame […]. But the most important thing is my life and that I’m happy with my family, not just football. And today, I couldn’t dream of anything better.”
Draxler: “This life is more normal for me”
It wasn’t always easy walking around Paris with my little boy; I had to hide behind a cap. I’m not Neymar, but if you play for PSG, it’s quite difficult to have a normal life. In Qatar, it’s the opposite; you can look people in the eye. This life is more normal for me; I can move around without feeling like people are following my every move. On a human level, it feels really good.
Draxler: “I’m not ashamed of it.”
Football is super important, but my parents are getting older, my son is three, time goes by very quickly, and if I can help my family financially with the money I’ve earned during my career, I’ll do it. There’s no reason to hide. I’m not ashamed of it.
Sometimes we tend to forget that a footballer isn’t a machine programmed to maximize his potential down to the last drop of sweat. The example of Julian Draxler (31 years old) is striking: immense talent, silky technique, but a philosophy of life that moves away from a purely sporting obsession.
While some, like Cristiano Ronaldo, have built their legend on an almost military discipline and the cult of performance, others find their balance elsewhere, in family, tranquility, or a more “normal” life. This can be frustrating for fans, who see a world-class player fail to reach the pinnacle they hoped for. But it’s also a reality of elite sport: not all destinies follow the same path. Draxler illustrates this diversity, reminding us that there are several ways to envision a career, even at PSG.
