Some Manchester United are feeling nostalgic about the presence of former midfielder Ander Herrera at the Old Trafford club.
United did not hand Herrera a new contract at the end of last season. The Spaniard joined French giants Paris Saint-Germain in the summer and has already played six times in the Ligue 1 for the Parisiens.
Last season, Herrera, who is valued at 22.5 million (as per Transfermarkt), played as many 22 games in the Premier League for United. He scored two times and racked up three assists.
In an interview with So Foot (via The Independent) that Herrera has recently given, he has talked about how United are run.
“Frankly, I was immensely happy in Manchester, but at the club, there were times when I felt that football was not considered the most important thing.” Ander Herrera
Finally someone outing the club for the chaos they are causing! pic.twitter.com/aQzGPtHGXa
— The United Stand (@UnitedStandMUFC) November 8, 2019
This made many United fans feel nostalgic about the midfielder’s presence at the club.
do you miss him?
Every day
— Youri__Utd (@utdyouri) November 8, 2019
Ander loved the club. Played his heart out for the club. Good to see him coming out and telling the truth about how we’re run. We’re failing because we’re not run like a football club
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) November 8, 2019
Captain. Biggest loss to United since Sir Alex retired, I don’t care what anyone says.
— Spiral Architect (@Crystal_Days) November 8, 2019
May not actually be a Legend but he’s a Legend in my eyes.
— Guildmaster Andy (@REALAndyGM) November 8, 2019
That’s why he left. Guy lives and breathes football. Unfortunately United is no longer a football club anymore. I’d say it’s more 80% business then 20% football.
— don’t worry about it (@rractive) November 8, 2019
Herrera joined United in the summer of 2014 from Athletic Bilbao for a fee of £28.8million. He signed under the tutelage of Louis van Gaal, but played under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as well.
The Spaniard made a total of 189 appearances in all competitions for United. He scored 20 times, racking up a total of 27 assists.
While United had signed Herrera in the summer of 2014, he was close to joining the club in the summer of 2013 under David Moyes too. But the deal fell through as impostors had arrived to complete the deal.
Some United fans lauded Herrera for speaking publicly for what is wrong at Old Trafford.
Need more ex-players to call out ed and the board
— RK (@username1aken) November 8, 2019
It’s basically what Klopp is alleged to have said on turning down the job at OT
— John Ettery (@johnnyett) November 8, 2019
What do we think?
Herrera was one of the players who United fans could connect with. He was known to play with tenacity and resiliency that was often compared to that of Roy Keane. But if the club’s priorities aren’t football, players like Herrera will leave.
The fact that he is playing Champions League football and United are tenth in the Premier League shows as to who won, in the end. United’s non-football approach is harming them.