Ex-Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera has revealed he is playing for free at his boyhood club Real Zaragoza. 

The 37-year-old who has two caps for the Spanish national team was, until very recently, living out the final years of his storied career in Argentina with Boca Juniors but has now decided to ply his trade in the Spanish third division with Real Zaragoza, in hopes of bringing the historic club back to the big time. 

Herrera is reportedly earning £5,500 per week, a far cry from the £150,000 he earned while playing for European giants Paris Saint-Germain. But in an interview with Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand on the former centre-half's YouTube channel, Rio Ferdinand Presents, the Spaniard revealed that every penny of his wage will be going to the club's foundation.

The six-time Copa del Rey and one-time Europa League cup winner said: '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. 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. 

'At home, my city, where I grew up, and hopefully, as I told you before, helping the club to come back to professional football.'

Real Zaragoza, slipped into the third division of Spanish football, officially a semi-professional division, at the end of last season in one of the most shocking declines a big European club has experienced in recent years. 

Herrera also stressed the importance of his decision: '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. 

'And one day, probably soon, when I am retired, I want to feel proud of what I have done during my career.' 

Ferdinand took Herrera's candor as an opportunity to pile more criticism onto Manchester United's rivals, Manchester City, 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.'

The pair continued to joke about the potential re-attributing of Premier League winners medals following the bombshell Manchester City verdict.

Ferdinand began by saying: 'I'm waiting for my medal as well, so you can have one and I can have another one as well.' Herrera gave a classy response saying: 'I don't know if we deserve the trophy, but for sure they don't deserve to win it.

'If the Premier League want to keep being respected all around the world they have to do something.'

Herrera could potentially be entitled to a Premier League winners medal as he was a key part of Jose Mourinho's 2017-18 Manchester United side that finished second to City, although they were 19 points off the pace. 

The one-time Europa League and FA Cup winner with Manchester United did express some sympathy for the Manchester City players during his interview, 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.'