Former Man Utd star, 37, now playing for FREE in third division as he hails ‘last dream I wanted to come true’

ANDER HERRERA has returned to boyhood club Real Zaragoza to play for FREE. The ex-Manchester United midfielder, 37, has joined the Spanish third tier side from Boca Juniors on a free transfer and will not be paid at his new club. A Manchester United star has re-joined his boyhood club Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd Ander Herrera got his break at Real Zaragoza, and will re-join them in Spain’s third tier Credit: Getty Images – Getty Herrera spent five years at Old Trafford between 2014-19 under Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, winning the Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup. But the two-cap Spain star is delighted he has been able to complete the circle with a return to his homeland for the final chapter of his career. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! Herrara said: “I don’t need a contract. I had a very successful career and I have taken care of my money. “And I can give this present to myself to help my club for free, in a difficult moment. “It’s something that makes me feel so proud. To be able to be here just to help. “Not thinking about money or contracts or whatever. This is the last dream that I wanted to make come true. “To come back home, the place where I grew up. The place that gave me the opportunity to be a professional. We say in Spain to close the circle.” Herrera has been away from Zaragoza for 15 years with two spells at Athletic Bilbao, United, Paris Saint-Germain and Boca. Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS His next match is expected to be in the Spanish third division in front of roughly 6,500 fans against a regional side, Gimnastic de Tarragona. Zaragoza, who famously beat Arsenal in the 1995 Cup Winners Cup final when Nayim lobbed David Seaman from near the halfway line, were relegated from La Liga in 2012-13 – two years after Herrera had left for Bilbao. But the club have been on the decline since and Herrera aims to turn their fortunes around. Herrera added: “I still have the passion and desire. I still have that for football and to do it at home is the best way to end my career. Herrera made 132 league appearances for United Credit: Getty He most recently starred for Boca Juniors in Argentina Credit: Getty “Real Zaragoza belong in Europe, they belong to compete for trophies, to be fighting with the biggest clubs in Spain and in Europe. “I want to put my quality, my experience and my passion to try to help my team to come back where I think we belong.” Comment now