Ander Herrera has returned to his boyhood club Real Zaragoza, now in Spain’s third division, 15 years after leaving for a career that included Manchester United, Paris St-Germain and Boca Juniors. The 37-year-old says the move fulfils his final footballing dream and matters because he hopes his experience can help revive a club he believes should again compete at the highest level.

Herrera has joined on a free transfer from Boca and will donate his salary to Zaragoza’s foundation, saying he is financially secure and wants simply to help his club, city and supporters. Zaragoza, winners of the 1995 Cup Winners’ Cup against Arsenal, were relegated from La Liga in 2013 and slipped into the third tier after 13 seasons in the second division; Herrera made 86 first-team appearances during his initial spell.