Neymar and Kylian Mbappe signings made PSG life 'more complicated' but Julian Draxler wanted to stay 'as long as possible' to enjoy Real Madrid star's development

Draxler reflected on his PSG career, having signed from Wolfsburg in 2016 for around €40 million (£34m/$44m) and quickly impressing in his first six months, which he described as the best of his life. However, the landscape shifted in 2017 with the high-profile arrivals of Neymar for €222m (£189m/$244m) and Mbappe for €180m (£153m/$198m). The German admitted that their signings made things “more complicated” for him, as competition for places intensified.

Despite the challenges, Draxler’s admiration for Les Parisiens never wavered. He highlighted the club’s ambitious nature, calling it “a bit of a crazy club, like me,” but also “magnificent.” He pointed to the rapid-fire signings of Neymar and Mbappe as examples of PSG’s unpredictability, where major football stories unfolded almost weekly. For Draxler, being part of such a high-profile project gave him pride and satisfaction, even as his role in the team changed.

In an interview with Le Parisien, the former PSG star said: "The first six months were perhaps the best of my life. It was magnificent. It became more complicated with the arrival of Neymar and Mbappe. These two signings changed a lot of things for me. It was a pleasure to play with them. When Neymar arrived... I'd never seen anything like that in my life, it was incredible! And that's also why I stayed as long as possible. I wanted to see the level, how Kylian would develop. Being on the pitch with players like that is a real pleasure, it's everyone's dream."

He added: "I loved that club. PSG is a bit of a crazy club, like me. When you think they signed Neymar for €222 million and three weeks later Mbappe for €180 million... There's always something new at this club, stories! You never get bored at PSG. I felt good in Paris, proud to wear the shirt of this great club and say, 'I play for PSG.' I liked the way we played football, we had fun on the pitch . It's a magnificent club."

Draxler left PSG on loan to Benfica in September 2022 before completing a permanent move to Al-Ahli in Qatar in 2023. At 31, he continues his career in the Middle East but still speaks fondly of his Paris years, remembering both the joy of playing alongside superstars and the challenges their presence brought.