Former Manchester United player Ander Herrera recently spoke to the British media about his return to his childhood club, Real Zaragoza, and his decision to play for the club for free. The Spanish midfielder stated that returning to Zaragoza was a dream he had always wanted to achieve in his career, and now being able to wear the team's jersey and help his old club out of a difficult period makes him immensely proud.
Herrera's most recent official match was for Boca Juniors in the Copa Libertadores, where he played in the electric atmosphere of La Bombonera.
His next game, however, will be in the third tier of Spanish football against local rivals Gimnàstic de Tarragona, with an estimated attendance of around 6,500.
Herrera stated that his return to his childhood club, Real Zaragoza, as a free agent from Boca Juniors, is no less significant than any other transfer in his career.
"This is probably the last dream I've always wanted to achieve," the Spanish player said in an interview.
"To return home, to the place where I grew up. This is where I was given the opportunity to become a professional footballer – not just in football, but also to develop as a person."
"I am still passionate, still hungry, and I still love football. Being able to complete the final chapter of my career in my hometown is, I think, the best way to do it."
"In Spain, we call this 'closing a cycle perfectly'."
Herrera left Real Zaragoza 15 years ago. During this time, he played for Athletic Bilbao twice, and also for Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, and Boca Juniors.
The 37-year-old has won the Europa League, FA Cup, and multiple league titles. He has also played under José Mourinho, Thomas Tuchel, and Marcelo Bielsa, and has been teammates with stars such as Messi, Neymar, and Rooney.
However, in recent years, Real Zaragoza's results have been far from their former glory. The team that won the 1995 Cup Winners' Cup is now going through a difficult period.
Real Zaragoza was relegated from La Liga in the 2012-13 season, two years after Herrera had already left the team for Athletic Bilbao. Since then, the club has experienced a prolonged decline, spending 13 seasons in the Segunda División before dropping to the third tier of Spanish football.
"Of course, it's all very sad for Zaragoza fans," Herrera said, having watched his old club's decline from afar.
"Zaragoza should be in Europe, competing for titles, and fighting alongside the biggest clubs in Spain and Europe."
"I hope to use my abilities, experience, and passion to help the team return to where I believe we belong."
"But from the first day I came back, I didn't want to dwell on the past. We've spent too much time discussing what went wrong."
"Constantly thinking about why those things happened will only lead us into negativity. Let's stop looking back."
"Let's look to the future and come to the training ground with a smile every day."
"I don't need a contract" – Herrera chooses to play for Zaragoza for free
Herrera first left Zaragoza in 2011, when the club was facing serious financial difficulties. However, upon leaving, he already knew that he would return someday.
Although he could not have predicted the state the team would be in upon his return, he has now chosen to put on the jersey again during the club's most difficult period and has decided to donate his salary to the Real Zaragoza Foundation.
"I don't need a contract. I've had a very successful career and I've managed my finances well," Herrera said.
"I can give myself this gift. To wear that jersey again... and for free, because I want to help my club, my team, and my city."
"This is something I've always wanted to do, and something I'm capable of doing. I'm very proud to be here to help the team."
"I'm not thinking about money, nor about a contract. I just feel honored to be able to do this."
Before becoming a first-team player for Zaragoza, Herrera was a devoted fan of the club. His idols were Zaragoza players, and the person who influenced him most – his father, Pedro Herrera – was also a footballer and later served as the general manager of the club.
His father's time working at the club became his earliest football memories, including the famous 1995 Cup Winners' Cup final.
A young Herrera watched the team's match at home, witnessing Zaragoza defeat Arsenal and lift the Cup Winners' Cup at the Parc des Princes in Paris. Years later, he himself would play for Paris Saint-Germain for three years.
Herrera said: "Now you can certainly see the difference between Arsenal and Real Zaragoza, but in the past, we were able to compete with these European giants."
He also added: "I never idolized players from Real Madrid or Barcelona; my idols were always Real Zaragoza players."
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