Ander Herrera Donates Salary to Real Zaragoza Foundation

Ander Herrera, the former Manchester United midfielder, has revealed he is playing for free at his boyhood club, Real Zaragoza. Herrera, 37, who previously played for Boca Juniors in Argentina, has returned to the Spanish third division with Real Zaragoza in an effort to help the historic club return to professional football.

Herrera's decision was shared in an interview on former Manchester United teammate Rio Ferdinand's YouTube channel, 'Rio Ferdinand Presents.' The Spaniard stated that his entire weekly wage, reportedly around £5,500, will be donated to the club's foundation. This is a significant decrease from the approximately £150,000 per week he earned at Paris Saint-Germain.

"Now in a difficult moment for the club, I think we all, we the fans, we have the responsibility to help the team and the club," Herrera said. "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."

He added that his motivation is to help his hometown club, where he grew up, return to professional football. Real Zaragoza was relegated to the third division of Spanish football at the end of the last season.

Herrera also emphasized the importance of giving back to the sport. "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," he stated. "And one day, probably soon, when I am retired, I want to feel proud of what I have done during my career."

During the interview, Ferdinand also discussed the recent charges against Manchester City. He commented on Herrera's gesture, saying, "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, who was part of the Manchester United squad that finished second in the Premier League in the 2017-18 season, expressed sympathy for Manchester City players, saying, "I don't know if you will agree with me but if I was a Man City player I would be angry with my owners, I would be angry with my board, because they have put all that I have done during these years in doubt."