Ander Herrera Donates Zaragoza Wage to Help Hometown Club Recover
Ander Herrera is playing for Real Zaragoza without taking a salary, with his £5,500 weekly wage being handed back to the club’s foundation as he tries to drive his hometown side out of Spain’s third tier.
Herrera gives back after Zaragoza return
The 37-year-old midfielder has rejoined the club where his career started at a time of major need. Zaragoza were relegated from professional football in May after a decade marked by financial difficulties and legal issues.
Herrera previously spent five years with Manchester United before moving to Paris Saint-Germain, building substantial earnings during spells in England and France. He said that position allowed him to make an emotional return without financial benefit.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube programme, Herrera said Zaragoza gave him the chance to become a professional and that supporters have a responsibility to help during the club’s crisis.
He explained that he is proud of both his football career and what he has earned, adding that he no longer needs the money and wanted to represent Zaragoza for nothing.
A return driven by loyalty
Herrera sees the move as more than a late-career football decision. He described himself as a fan as well as a player and said he wants to repay a game that has given him so much before retirement, which he suggested could be approaching.
- Herrera is 37 and has returned to his boyhood club.
- His full weekly wage of £5,500 goes to Zaragoza’s foundation.
- Zaragoza are six-time Copa del Rey winners.
- The club fell into the third-tier Primera Federación after May’s relegation.
- Herrera wants his final playing years to leave him proud of his contribution.
The former Manchester United and PSG midfielder said he wants to look back on his career with satisfaction once he has stopped playing, and believes helping Zaragoza through a difficult period is part of that legacy.
Promotion push gathers pace
The early results have given Herrera and Zaragoza a strong platform. They sit first in Primera Federación Group B after winning five of their first seven league matches.
| Competition | Games played | Wins | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primera Federación Group B | 7 | 5 | 1st |
Zaragoza’s immediate objective is to sustain that form and secure a rapid route back towards the higher divisions. For Herrera, each result is part of a wider attempt to help the club move beyond its recent troubles.
What happens next
Herrera will now look to turn Zaragoza’s fast start into a sustained promotion challenge. The midfielder’s unpaid return has set the tone, but the decisive task is keeping the side at the top of Group B and delivering the recovery the club’s supporters want.
