"I Have No Regrets"

Original article from France Football, published after the 2025 ceremony.

During the trophy presentation at PSG on August 22, your former teammates pushed you towards the crowd to be celebrated, even as the club was showing you the door. What were you feeling at that moment?

It was very emotional because I built excellent relationships with all my teammates. To be honest, I didn't expect such a reaction from the team, and it touched me deeply. I thank them all immensely because they played a crucial role in my journey in Paris. They always supported me, and we supported each other. I'm truly happy to have left such a significant mark on them and the entire squad.

Did you imagine you would receive such a tribute from the Parc des Princes?

No, I was surprised. It was truly beautiful, and for that, I thank them very much. I gave everything—my whole heart, my entire being. When you give your all, leave everything on the pitch for the shirt, you are rewarded in the end. I'm glad I made an impression on the supporters.

There was a key moment on the road to the Allianz Arena. What did you do on the bus heading to Munich for the Champions League final against Inter Milan on May 31 (a 5-0 victory)?

I left a letter for each of my teammates to thank them for our fantastic journey. I wrote it in several languages so everyone could understand. It was something I felt I needed to do, to share and convey to all my teammates for everything we had already accomplished. We just needed that final piece of the puzzle to finish on a high. I'm also happy that it was taken to heart and I hope I contributed something to each of them.

Can you share the last sentence?

Not exactly. (He hesitates.) The last sentence...

Perhaps "I love you"?

Maybe, yes. (He hesitates again.) I can't talk about it because those are personal things concerning the team. But it was a sincere letter, written with love for all my teammates.

So there was love in your words, love for your teammates...

Yes, yes.

How did they react?

There were hugs and embraces; it moved me. They thanked me. It was a beautiful moment. Through those words, I tried to convey my whole self, all the love I feel for them, for all the work we did together, for all the years we suffered together. There were difficult times, but we managed to stay united to pick ourselves up and succeed together. We got to where we wanted to be and lifted the European Cup because we were a collective and had always done the work together. It was truly special.

Was your time with Paris Saint-Germain a love story as well?

Yes, a beautiful story, an important stage in my career. Now, I'm starting a new phase of my life, and I'm happy about it. I'm proud to be at Manchester City, and I will try to win as many trophies as possible here and keep the team at the highest level. History teaches us that you have to give everything to stay at the top. But I'm certain we will achieve that with City because, from the very first days, I've seen a super group—united, close-knit, a great club, a great family. I'm really happy.

You know what they say: love stories usually end badly...

For me, it ended well. I have no regrets about my years in Paris. I'm proud of what I accomplished, of what we all accomplished together. It was a difficult but magnificent journey. We secured many victories, crowned by the Champions League success, so I'm truly happy with what I achieved in Paris.

"It was a very beautiful adventure (with PSG)."

Gianluigi Donnarumma: Player Profile Age: 26 (Born February 25, 1999, in Castellammare di Stabia, Italy) Position: Goalkeeper Height/Weight: 1.96m / 92kg National Team: Italy (76 caps)Career Path AC Milan: 2015–2021 Paris-SG: 2021–2025 Manchester City: September 2025–PresentMajor Honors International: UEFA Euro 2021 Club: UEFA Champions League (2025), Ligue 1 (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), Coupe de France (2024, 2025), Trophée des Champions (2022, 2023, 2024), Supercoppa Italiana (2016) Individual: Yachine Trophy (2021, 2025)2024-2025 Season Stats Matches: 55 Goals Conceded: 55 Clean Sheets: 18 Cards: 3 yellow, 0 red

Just as you reached the pinnacle with PSG, capping an extraordinary season with major Champions League performances, your time there came to an end. From the outside, it seems cruel. How did you experience it? Was there sadness, anger, or a sense of injustice?

No, as I've said before, I'm happy with what I accomplished. Everyone makes their own choices. Paris will always be in my heart because the fans and the club gave me so much. It was a beautiful adventure. Now, I'm turning the page. I'm at Manchester City, and I'm proud to be here. I want to make my mark on this club's history, win many titles, give my all, and sweat for the shirt.

Until this year and the final Champions League triumph, there were always doubts and the question: can PSG win the Champions League with Donnarumma? Were you aware of these doubts surrounding you?

Yes. Let's just say what allowed us to succeed was our ability to keep the group united. We took it one match at a time, without letting outside noise distract us. We stayed focused on ourselves and the work we had to do. There were difficult moments, but we overcame them together with great strength to reach that moment everyone saw. We won that important final against Inter, a tough match, even if the 5-0 scoreline was heavy. Inter is a great team that I know well, that we all know. We prepared very well and managed to make the game easier than expected. I'm truly happy to have made history in Paris.

When you arrived at PSG, you were a European champion with Italy and in top form. Then came the match against Real Madrid (a 3-1 loss in the Champions League round of 16 second leg on March 9, 2022), which didn't go well. It feels like that moment cast a shadow over your time in Paris. Did it affect your confidence? Or the way people saw you?

No... I always tried to give my best for the club. I always felt supported. Unfortunately, difficult moments happen, but the important thing is to get back up and give your all. Because that's how things turn around. Like me, the entire team always gave everything, the maximum in every training session, and in the end, we achieved the dream we had been chasing for so long. After so many years, we managed to bring home the first Champions League in Paris's history.

Three years after Madrid, there was the round of 16 second leg against Liverpool at Anfield (March 11, 2025, after a 1-0 first-leg loss, PSG qualified 1-0 a.e.t., 4-1 on penalties). We saw a different Donnarumma, one never seen before at that level for PSG in the Champions League, especially dominant in the air. You seemed different that night. What happened?

The whole team was convinced we could turn the result around. We had played an excellent first leg and were unlucky, but right after that match in Paris, we were all certain we could reverse the situation, go to Anfield, and win. That gave us immense strength. We went there with humility, with the right determination, and in the end, the result rewarded us. But it was our mental strength that made the difference.

But for you, personally...

I always gave my all, no matter the situation. A match like that, after managing to turn things around away from home against a team as strong as Liverpool, gives you incredible strength and a huge boost in confidence.

How did it feel to finally be decisive for PSG in the Champions League? That qualification was thanks to you...

Thank you, but no, it wasn't just thanks to me; it was thanks to the team. They had an incredible season, giving everything in every match and always working hard to get these results. It's certainly not just because of me, but because of the whole team. Without them, you get nowhere. The important thing is to have a solid, strong, united group where everyone helps each other. If a teammate makes a mistake, another runs to help him. That's how it is. It's essential for building a cohesive unit and for winning.

"When self-confidence grows, you feel unbeatable"

After Liverpool, you were exceptional again against Aston Villa in the quarter-finals (3-1, 2-3) and Arsenal in the semi-finals (1-0, 2-1). At a certain point, did you feel invincible? Did you sense a strength you'd never experienced before?

It's definitely a matter of self-confidence. As it grows, yes, you get that feeling of being unbeatable. But it's crucial to always stay focused and attentive. You must never cross that line into overconfidence. When that happens, it's not good. But it's true that after those matches, I felt an incredible surge of confidence.

We certainly got that impression...

Ah, thank you, thank you. (He laughs.)

And perhaps your teammates felt it too. And your opponents were thinking...

(He interrupts.) I think so. If I managed to transmit that feeling to them, and I hope I did, that's a good thing. Because I also placed great trust in them. So, yes, I hope so.

On Being the World's Best

This Yashin Trophy recognizes the best goalkeeper of the season, and it's yours. So we have to ask: are you currently the best in the world?

Listen, I don't like to... (He trails off.) I'm always critical of myself, always trying to improve and give my all. It's not for me to say who the best goalkeeper in the world is. I'm not the one who decides. But if the voters chose me, it means I did something right and conveyed something. I hope to win more individual trophies. Thank you to everyone who voted for me; I'm incredibly happy. I will always strive to continue on this path and get better.

For you, is this Yashin Trophy like a Ballon d'Or?

I hope to win the Ballon d'Or too! (He laughs.) Yes, because this is a very important, fantastic trophy—the most coveted for a goalkeeper. So I'm happy and proud of what I've accomplished. And I hope to do even better, give even more, and, as I said, keep going and win more. The future will tell.

Legacy and Style

This is your second Yashin Trophy (after 2021). Does that already place you among the greatest goalkeepers in history?

I'm proud and delighted. It's not even something you dream of as a child. To be here is a dream. I will always try to give my best and win as many team trophies as possible—those are the most important. If you win team trophies, the individual awards will follow.

Would you like to make your mark on the history of your position?

I'm happy to be writing history. And I hope to improve again and again, and win more trophies. You can only reach your goals by working and training hard. So, there's still work to do and progress to be made.

How would you describe your style as a goalkeeper?

(He thinks.) I always try to be a complete goalkeeper, to improve in every area. I work hard to leave nothing to chance, to improve on the smallest details. That's my ambition and my goal. So, I hope to be the most complete goalkeeper possible.

"The fundamental quality of a goalkeeper is to stop shots."

In modern football, how important is a goalkeeper's ability with their feet?

In today's game, I think it's in the top three. I don't know why... For me, the most important thing for a goalkeeper is making saves. After that, of course, you can help the team in a certain way and make them better with good footwork, but I believe the fundamental quality of a goalkeeper is to stop shots.

A New Chapter at Manchester City

Have you spoken with Pep Guardiola, your new manager, about what he expects from you?

Definitely, yes. It's an honor to be chosen by Mister Guardiola. It's emotional because we all know the history he has written in football. He can really help me improve immensely, in all areas. And the goal, from the very first training session, was to listen to him and get the most out of what he says.

Interview Snapshot Duration: 25 minutes, including a fire alarm interruption. The session was initially scheduled for one hour but was shortened to 30 minutes at the last minute by the player's entourage. Attire: A casual beige jacket and trousers, paired with a white t-shirt and trainers. Refreshments: None. Entourage: A significant presence, including agent Enzo Raiola, a media relations manager, several Manchester City club members, and an individual seeking autographs during the photoshoot.Self-Assessment His Rating: "10.5 out of 10!" Our Rating: 5 out of 10. While he seemed keen to clear the air, the player appeared guarded at times, and the interview conditions were less than ideal.Quick Hits Three Interviews He'd Like to Read: "Ousmane Dembélé, Gigi Buffon, and Leo Messi." His Suggested Headline: "I want to win the World Cup."Donnarumma: "A World Cup Without Italy Isn't a World Cup"

As arguably the world's top player in your position, the biggest stage to prove it is the World Cup. Italy has been absent. When will we see you there?

I hope to successfully qualify Italy for the World Cup. After missing two consecutive tournaments (2018, 2022), there cannot be a third without Italy. Italy must be there, and I will give everything for that, because a World Cup without Italy isn't a World Cup. We have to be there. I am sure that with Mister Spalletti (the national team coach), with his help and that of his entire staff, and with the whole team, we will all succeed together in bringing Italy back where it belongs. I hope for it with all my heart, and in doing so, bring joy to all Italians, because they deserve it. That is the goal."