Former Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Ander Herrera has revealed why he is currently playing without pay. The 37-year-old, who earned £22m during his five-year spell at Old Trafford and a further £31m at PSG, has rejoined his boyhood club Real Zaragoza to help them climb out of the third division of Spanish football.
Herrera is donating his £5,500 weekly wage back to the club's foundation. Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel, he explained his decision to volunteer his time and talents without financial reward.
Gratitude to his boyhood club
Herrera said: "I have a lot to thank to this club, to these people. Because without Real Zaragoza, I would probably never been a professional player."
He added: "And now, in a difficult moment of the club, I think we all, we the fans, we have the responsibility to help the team and the club. And I feel so proud of my career. I feel so proud about what I have achieved in terms of football and also in terms of money. So, I don't need it. I wanted to play for free. I wanted to help for free."
A gesture praised by Ferdinand
Ferdinand took the opportunity to aim a dig at Manchester City, saying: "Yeah, and it's crazy. In a world where Man City have these charges hanging over their head, it's so good to hear about a gesture like this still in the game of football."
Herrera continued: "But I think we also have to give something back to football, you know, and I wanted to do this because I am not only a professional football player, I am also a football fan and I love what I do. And one day, probably soon, when I am retired, I want to feel proud of what I have done during my career."
Zaragoza's current standing
Zaragoza dropped out of the professional football league in May following a decade of financial troubles and legal controversies, which included a match-fixing scandal. The six-time Copa del Rey winners currently lead Group B in the Primera Federacion, having secured five victories from their first seven fixtures.
