Former Germany international Julian Draxler has revealed he sometimes wonders if he made a mistake by rejecting the chance to join Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool during his peak years.
The Path Not Taken: Wenger's Arsenal and Klopp's Liverpool
Now 32 and playing for Al Ahli in Qatar, Draxler enjoyed a trophy-laden career, most notably winning the 2014 World Cup with Germany and 13 domestic trophies with Paris Saint-Germain. However, in a frank interview with Sport Bild, the attacking midfielder admitted to curiosity about the alternative career paths he declined.
Draxler confirmed that a move to Arsenal was a genuine possibility when he was a highly-rated youngster at Schalke. "When I was still very young at Schalke and extended my contract, I could have gone to Arsenal," Draxler stated. "Honestly, I’d be interested to see what would have become of me if I had learned from Arsene Wenger so early."
Furthermore, he acknowledged another missed opportunity after leaving Wolfsburg in 2017. "I’ve also wondered what would have happened if I hadn’t gone from Wolfsburg to Paris, but to Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. I had that opportunity, too," he added.
A Career of 'What Ifs' Despite Success
Draxler burst onto the scene as a teenage prodigy at Schalke, making his senior Germany debut at just 17 years old in 2012. His potential seemed limitless, prompting years of transfer speculation linking him with England's top clubs.
Instead, he joined PSG in a big-money move in January 2017. While he secured numerous Ligue 1 titles, his time in Paris was often spent in the shadow of global superstars like Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Angel Di Maria, and later Lionel Messi. He also never won the Champions League with PSG, playing his last game for them in March 2022 – two years before the club finally lifted the European Cup.
The persistent links to Arsenal became a long-running transfer saga. In a memorable moment in January 2014, rumours swirled that Draxler had visited Arsenal's training ground. Manager Arsene Wenger humorously dismissed the speculation, comparing it to a UFO sighting.
At Peace, But Pensive
Despite his musings on different choices, Draxler insisted he is content with his journey. "Nevertheless, I’m happy. I’m at peace with my decisions," he concluded.
His reflections, however, will fuel endless debate among fans about whether the gifted playmaker truly maximised his vast potential and how he might have flourished in the intense environment of the Premier League under two of its most revered modern managers.
