Rothen on Donnarumma: PSG have no reason for regrets
On RMC Sport, Jérôme Rothen settled the debate: PSG have nothing to regret over Donnarumma. In his view, the Italian goalkeeper completed his cycle in Paris by helping the club win its first Champions League before leaving for Manchester City.
Key takeaways
- Jérôme Rothen says PSG have nothing to regret over Donnarumma, arguing he completed his cycle by helping PSG win its first Champions League.
- Rothen notes Donnarumma's role in the squad that secured PSG's first Champions League is enough to give his Parisian spell a full, positive meaning.
- He argues the move to Manchester City is a continuation of a successful journey, not a loss for PSG.
- He says Donnarumma's departure closes his time at PSG and that he served his time, carving a milestone in the club's history.
Match sheet
Manchester City 2 – 4 Paris Saint-Germain
· Ligue des champions · League Phase · Etihad Stadium
- 13' Désiré Doué (Paris Saint-Germain) — goal
- 15' Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain) — goal
- 32' Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain) — goal
- 53' Erling Haaland (Manchester City) — goal
- 61' Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City) — yellow card
- 62' Maghnes Akliouche (Paris Saint-Germain) — goal
- 69' Warren Zaïre-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain) — yellow card
- 75' Erling Haaland (Manchester City) — goal
Standings Ligue des champions : 1er, 9 pts (3 j.)
During the « La VAR » segment on RMC Sport, Jérôme Rothen tackled a question that regularly crops up in discussions around Paris Saint-Germain: should there be any regrets about Donnarumma since his departure? For the former Paris player, the answer is clear. The pundit believes the Italian goalkeeper achieved what he needed to achieve at PSG and that his time in Paris ends on the most important note.
Central argument
Rothen highlights one central argument: Donnarumma was part of the squad that delivered the club's first Champions League. In his eyes, that triumph in « the most beautiful of competitions » is enough to give the keeper's Parisian adventure its full and complete meaning. From that perspective, there is no reason to harbour regrets as he joins Manchester City.
Two-point reasoning
Rothen's reasoning comes down to two points. First, the idea of a completed cycle: a player can deliver what was expected of him and close a chapter without it calling for any particular nostalgia. Second, the symbolic and sporting value of a trophy that marks the club's history and redefines how an individual spell should be judged. Being associated with that defining moment is enough, according to him, to settle Donnarumma's record on a positive note.
Framework
This view does not claim to end all debate — everyone is free to judge the mark a goalkeeper leaves differently — but it sets a framework: when a major objective has been achieved, the departure that follows can be seen as the continuation of a successful journey rather than an irreparable loss. To hear him tell it, PSG therefore have no reason to look back with bitterness: Donnarumma fulfilled his mission in Paris before heading in a new direction.
Conclusion
For Rothen, then, the question of regrets is closed. The Italian goalkeeper has « served his time » at PSG and helped carve out a unique milestone in the club's history. His move to Manchester City is therefore a logical next step rather than a cause for remorse.
Your questions, our answers
Did Rothen think Donnarumma achieved what he needed at PSG?
Yes, he believes the Italian goalkeeper achieved what he needed to achieve at PSG and that his time in Paris ends on the most important note.
What trophy justifies Donnarumma's PSG spell according to Rothen?
The club's first Champions League.
What is Rothen's view on regrets after Donnarumma's departure?
There is no reason to harbour regrets; the departure is a continuation of a successful journey.