Photo Credit: Zaragoza / Real Zaragoza
Ander Herrera Returns to Boyhood Club Zaragoza, Plays For Free
Former Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera has described his return to boyhood club Real Zaragoza as a dream come true, revealing he will play for free to help the struggling Spanish club rebuild.

The 37-year-old rejoined Zaragoza on a free transfer from Boca Juniors, 15 years after leaving the club where he began his professional career before stints at Athletic Club, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Boca Juniors.

Zaragoza, who were relegated from La Liga in 2013 and have now dropped into Spain’s third tier after years in the second division, are going through one of the most difficult periods in their history.

Herrera says returning home is one of the most meaningful moves of his career.
“This is probably the last dream that I wanted to make come true. To come back home, to the place where I grew up, that allowed me to be professional – not only in football, also as a human being,” he told BBC Sport.
The midfielder, whose father Pedro also played for and managed the club, said it has been painful to watch Zaragoza’s decline.
“It has been so sad, of course, for all us Zaragozistas. Real Zaragoza belong to Europe, they belong to compete for trophies, to be fighting with the biggest clubs in Spain and in Europe.”
To support the club’s recovery, Herrera has decided to donate his salary to the Real Zaragoza Foundation instead of taking a wage.
“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 said.

“I’m not thinking about money or contracts. I feel privileged to be able to do that.”
A lifelong Zaragoza fan who remembers watching the club beat Arsenal in the 1995 Cup Winners’ Cup final, Herrera now wants to focus on the future rather than the past.
“Let’s stop crying about what happened in the past. Let’s build on the future. Let’s come every day to training with a smile”.
For him, it is about closing the circle and repaying the club that shaped him both as a player and as a person.
Source: PunchNG –