Ander Herrera Rejoins Boyhood Club Real Zaragoza Without Salary in Spanish Third Tier

Former Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Ander Herrera has returned to his boyhood club Real Zaragoza after a 15-year absence. The 37-year-old Spaniard completed a free transfer from Argentine side Boca Juniors and has chosen to donate his entire salary to the club’s charitable foundation, effectively playing without payment.

The move represents a stark change in environment for Herrera. His most recent competitive match took place at Boca Juniors’ La Bombonera stadium in the Copa Libertadores. His next appearance will occur in Spain’s third tier, playing in front of approximately 6,500 spectators against regional opponents including Gimnastic de Tarragona.

Speaking about his decision to rejoin the team where he began his professional career, Herrera explained that financial compensation was not a factor in his choice. “I don’t need a contract. I have a very successful career,” he said, adding, “I can give this present to myself.” He described the homecoming as “probably the last dream that I wanted to make come true.”

Real Zaragoza’s fortunes have suffered significantly since Herrera’s departure in 2011, when the club was struggling financially. After being relegated from La Liga during the 2012–13 season, the team spent 13 years experiencing declining finishes in the second division before dropping into the third tier. Herrera urged everyone associated with the club to focus on rebuilding rather than dwelling on previous setbacks, stating, “Let’s stop crying about what happened in the past.”

Herrera holds deep family ties to Zaragoza. His father, Pedro Herrera, was a former player for the club who later served as its general manager. Before leaving for Athletic Club in 2011, the younger Herrera made 86 first-team appearances for Zaragoza. Over his subsequent career, he went on to win major honours including the FA Cup, the Europa League, and multiple domestic league titles, playing alongside elite figures such as Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Wayne Rooney.

Looking ahead, Herrera expressed an interest in mentoring youth players at the club’s academy, noting that external pressures often cause young athletes to rush their progression. “Social media is making us live too fast in every aspect of society,” Herrera observed, pointing out that statistics at Zaragoza’s academy indicate players who stay longer are more likely to reach the professional ranks.

Background

Real Zaragoza is a historic Spanish football club based in Aragon. The team achieved notable success in European football during the 1990s, highlighted by a victory over English club Arsenal in the 1995 European Cup Winners’ Cup final at the Parc des Princes in Paris. However, financial instability and sustained poor performance on the pitch over the past decade led to successive relegations, placing the former top-flight side in Spain’s semi-professional third tier.