Former Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Ander Herrera has returned to boyhood club Zaragoza in Spain’s third tier and is playing for free. The 37-year-old, who has also had two spells at Athletic Bilbao, a season with Boca Juniors and international caps for Spain, signed for Zaragoza this month after the club slipped into the third tier of Spanish football following relegation from La Liga 2.
Herrera has chosen to donate his salary to Zaragoza’s foundation as he aims to help the club return to former glories.
Why Herrera is playing without a contract
Speaking to the BBC, Herrera explained his decision: ‘I don’t need a contract. I have a very successful career. I have taken care of my money. I can give this present to myself. To put that shirt on… for free because I wanted to help my club, my team, my city.’
He added: ‘It’s something that I wanted to do. It’s something that I am able to do and it’s something that makes me feel so proud to be able to be here just to help. I am not thinking about money or contracts. I feel a privilege to be able to do that.’
The last dream of his career
Having won trophies including the Europa League, FA Cup, Ligue 1 and Coupe de France, Herrera says returning to Zaragoza is the final ambition of his career.
‘This is probably the last dream that I wanted to make come true,’ he said. ‘To come back home, to the place where I grew up, that gave me the opportunity to be professional – not only in football, also as a human being. And I still have the passion, I still have the desire. I still have that love for football and to do it at home is the best way to end up in my career. In Spain, we say closing the circle.’
Zaragoza’s history and ambitions
Zaragoza were in the top flight in Spain for the majority of the time from the mid-1950s until relegation in 2013. The club has never won La Liga but has lifted the Copa del Rey six times, most recently in 2004.
‘Real Zaragoza belong to Europe, they belong to compete for trophies, to be fighting with the biggest clubs in Spain and in Europe,’ said Herrera. ‘I want to put my quality, my experience and my passion to try to help my team to come back where I think we belong.’
