LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 29: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates after teammate Ousmane Dembele (not pictured) scores his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between Arsenal FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Emirates Stadium on April 29, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper and Italy no.1 Gianluigi Donnarumma has explained how the dressing room has changed at the Parc des Princes following the departure of Kylian Mbappe for Real Madrid in the summer, and how Italy’s EURO 2020 victory can help the Parisians in their upcoming Champions League final against Inter.
PSG booked their spot in the Champions League final after a 2-1 win over Arsenal in the semi-final second leg on Wednesday, which sealed a 3-1 aggregate victory.
They will go on to face Inter, who knocked out Barcelona in a spectacular 7-6 aggregate scoreline over the last week.
Donnarumma: PSG ‘spirit has changed’ after Mbappe departure
Speaking to Prime Video after full-time on Wednesday night, Donnarumma admitted that Mbappe’s departure has brought the current PSG squad closer together.
He also suggests that PSG have a similar spirit in their camp to the Italy squad at EURO 2020, which resulted in a penalty shoot-out victory over England in the final at Wembley.
“The spirit has changed, we are much more of a team. We play for each other,” Donnarumma told Prime Video after full-time.
“We miss Kylian, he is one of the best in the world and I wish him all the best because he is a great friend.
“The team is very united, we’re doing well together. We (Italy) won a European Championship like this, it makes all the difference in every team.”
What Donnarumma is looking forward to in PSG-Inter Champions League final
The final against Inter will bring an opportunity for the Italy no.1 to reunite with several of his national team colleagues in both the playing and coaching staff. Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Dimarco and Nicolo Barella will be among them.
However, it is goalkeeper coach Gianluca Spinelli, who works for both Inter and the Italy national team, whom Donnarumma is most looking forward to seeing in the Champions League final on May 31.
“I enjoyed this evening, the atmosphere was stratospheric. I will see old friends and my old goalkeeper coach Spinelli, with whom I still talk every day.”
Donnarumma also praised Inter stopper Yann Sommer for his performance during Inter’s 4-3 win over Barcelona on Tuesday night: “He was very good yesterday. He made more saves than me. He had a fantastic game, it was a great match.”
