"Two more years" was the cry - seemingly led by Rory McIlroy - which drew a broad smile from Donald.
As the party continued into the night in Italy's capital, Donald tempered any talk of staying on as captain after orchestrating Europe's 16.5-11.5 victory over the USA that won back the golden trophy on Sunday.
Not so McIlroy.
"Everyone sitting here," the four-time major winner said in the post-competition news conference, "would be very happy to have him again."
No one has captained Europe in back-to-back Ryder Cups since Bernard Gallagher in 1991, 1993 and 1995.
Back then, that wasn't rare, with Tony Jacklin and John Jacobs having repeated before Gallagher.
And Donald might just benefit from circumstance, just like he did in getting the job in the first place after Henrik Stenson, the original incumbent, was stripped of the role after defecting to LIV Golf for a reported $US50 million.
Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter - stalwarts of Europe's Ryder Cup teams since the turn of the century - were widely regarded as captains of the future, only for the landscape to be muddied by their decision to join the Saudi-funded breakaway series.
Ineligible for this year's Ryder Cup, it might be too early for them to be considered for 2025 whatever transpires regarding the "framework agreement" between the Saudi backers of LIV and PGA and European tours.
If offered the job again, Donald said on Monday he would consider it.
"Maybe I go out leaving a legacy as a winning Ryder Cup captain and not risk that," the former world No.1 said.
"Going over there in New York, which would be a real cauldron ... would be a really, really tough environment.
"(But) if I was to do this job, and I was to go over there and win, that would be some accomplishment."
If he does stay, Europe has a leader who has shown he has the brains, strategy and inner tenacity for the battle.
But what about the future of the team?
Listen to Jon Rahm, a major winner who has emerged as one of the figureheads of the European team, and that seems quite rosy, too.
Rahm praised the impact of 23-year-old Ludvig Aberg, Robert MacIntyre (27) and Nicolai Hojgaard (22), all of whom put points on the board in Rome.
"They did an unbelievable job," Rahm said. "It's not easy being a rookie and coming out here and showing why you deserve to be here. The future is bright."
