Former Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera has been filmed getting into a furious exchange with a fan after opting not to return to boyhood club Real Zaragoza this summer.
Herrera, 34, came through Zaragoza’s academy and went on to play for the first team between 2009 and 2011 before joining Athletic Bilbao. A switch to Manchester United followed in 2014, and he spent five years at Old Trafford prior to moving to PSG and then back to Bilbao.
His contract at the Basque club was due to expire at the end of this month, and reports emerged linking him with a switch back to Zaragoza – a move he had always promised to make before hаnging up his boots.
But on Thursday, Herrera opted to sign a one-year contract extension with Bilbao to put an end to speculation over his future, and one Zaragoza fan was clearly not happy with his decision.
The fan filmed themselves confronting Herrera to call him out while the midfield star was sat drinking with his friends, as they asked him: ‘What kind of Zaragozista are you?’
Ander Herrera was filmed confronting a fan after not re-signing for Real Zaragoza
Herrera (white jumper) rose to his feet and approached the fan after being called out for staying at Athletic Bilbao rather than fulfilling his promise to re-join Zaragoza
After exchanging angry words, Herrera chased the fan down the street while being filmed
Herrera signed a new deal on Thursday that will keep him at Bilbao until June 2025
Herrera quickly rose to his feet and approached the supporter before asking him ‘what’s wrong with you?’
After a brief stand-off, Herrera proceeded to chase the fan down the street while still being filmed after clearly being hurt by the criticism.
Herrera’s wife, Isabel Collado, later took to Instagram to Һit out at Zaragoza, placing the blame at the club’s door for failing to get a deal over the line to re-sign her husband.
Her Instagram story read: ‘A year waiting for a call, a visit, a project, a little affection… You stay where they have shown you.’
Her message indicated that Herrera was willing to drop down a division to play for Zaragoza, but the club did not do enough to make him feel wаnted.
Herrera finished fifth in LaLiga with Bilbao last season, with the team set to play in the Europa League next term.
Herrera’s wife, Isabel Collado (left) defended her husband’s transfer decision on Instagram
She claimed Herrera waited a year for Zaragoza to sign him but they did not show him enough affection and he opted to stick with Bilbao
Herrera is now staying at Bilbao, who will be playing in the Europa League next season
However, he was restricted to just 10 league starts and appeared open to a new challenge elsewhere.
Going back to Zaragoza seemingly appealed to him, despite the club finishing 15th in Spain’s second division in 2023-24, but Collado insists he was kept waiting for too long and decided to stick with Bilbao in the end.
Herrera has felt let down by teams before, having previously revealed he expected more from United when left in 2019.
The Spaniard broke down in tears when discussing his ‘painful’ Old Trafford exit on a podcast in 2022, after admitting he was confident he was going to be offered a new contract, only for the club to decide to let him go.
‘To leave, it was difficult because six months before, five months before, I was expecting that offer for me to stay,’ said Herrera on the UTD Podcast.
‘I don’t want to, it’s not the moment to talk bad about anyone and I am not going to do it, but after my third season with the club I expected a little bit more from the club at that time.
Herrera also felt let down by Manchester United when he left the club in 2019
He was left in tears when discussing his ‘painful’ exit on a podcast in 2022
‘I won the player of the season award from the fans and the club didn’t call me in that summer to sign a new contract and they did with other players so that was painful for me.
‘I think I deserved (a contract extension) but they didn’t do it and after the conditions changed because I was not happy with that little moment from the club.’