In conversation with the podcast “Tengo un plan" the 36-year-old Spanish soccer player shared a profound reflection on the pressure Argentine youth players feel to “save their families.”

Ander on the harsh reality of a Boca Juniors youth player:

“There's a boy in Boca who sometimes doesn't practice because he's out picking up cardboard to earn a living.”

Aware of this aspect of soccer, which serves as a springboard for social advancement for a large percentage of players in Argentina, Herrera reflected:

"In the end, it's part of the culture. We are very lucky—something else I am grateful for every day—to have been born where we were born. We are often unaware of how fortunate we are: where we are, the educational opportunities we have, our parents. There may be exceptions and crazy people, but normally our parents—at least those in my circle—are people who prioritize effort, work, and achieving things honestly."

He added:

“A kid comes along who is very good, but whose father didn't raise him, or had to work too hard and couldn't devote time to him, or didn't work at all and comes from a difficult background. He hasn't received any advice or training on what to do with his first paycheck... We often blame the kids, but it's not fair. They didn't have any training or role models to follow.”

Herrera elaborated on the most common example:

"A young man arrives and buys a car with his first paycheck. For me, it's a mistake, but how can I blame him? With my first big contract, I bought an apartment because I understood that it was the most necessary thing to do. I took out a young person's mortgage, bought an apartment, and when I received my second paycheck, I paid off the debt. On the other hand, someone who buys a Mercedes with their first paycheck... You try to explain to them that you can't sleep in a car, right? That they should invest in a house, buy an apartment in a reasonably good area, because when it comes to investments, real estate is the least likely to depreciate. But I don't blame them: they come from backgrounds where they never saw examples, and suddenly they find themselves with money. So they want to dress in Dior and have the best car possible, without realizing that an injury can put an end to it all."

At 36, Herrera has been part of the Boca Juniors squad since January, although constant injuries have prevented him from playing as regularly as expected. His professional career began in Zaragoza in 2009 and then continued at Athletic Club, Manchester United in England, and Paris Saint-Germain in France.

During his time in Manchester and Paris, he built a great relationship with Ángel Di María:

"I've been lucky to be with him. He comes from a very humble background and, in addition to being very talented, he has worked like an animal."

That reference to Fideo led him to reflect on the impact that soccer has on the lives of those who reach the elite:

“Absolutely, and in these countries... It changes their lives. It's a total escape for them and their families.”

BOCA, A FEELING

"I'm not at Boca out of necessity. As a kid, I watched a lot of soccer. I watched the fans online, the Boca fans, and how soccer was experienced here (in Argentina). I'm a soccer fan, and I try not to lose that magic. There are players who don't like to train, but I enjoy every day here at the training ground. I like what I do, which is why it's so hard when you're injured."

THE TEMPLE OF SOCCER

"I came to Boca because I love it. I'm passionate about soccer, and Boca is passion raised to the highest power. There is no more passionate club in the world, the aura you experience at La Bombonera. My father used to come to Argentina a lot and I remember him bringing me Boca shirts when I was little. The colors caught my attention and in Manchester they asked me and I said: ‘I would only play for Boca in Argentina’. I came here so that when I retire I can say: ‘I played for the biggest club’.

LIFE IN BUENOS AIRES

“Despite being a public figure, in Puerto Madero, where I live here in Argentina, I can go for a walk with my daughters in the afternoon. I love getting out into nature and discovering new places. I'm not going to play for Boca just to stay in my apartment. Soccer gives us the opportunity to enrich ourselves in other ways, and I didn't come here just to play soccer. I enjoy life.”

THE HUMILITY OF THE GREAT ONES

"I've had the opportunity to play with Messi. He worked every day, took care of himself, watched what he ate, didn't have an ounce of fat on him. If you don't combine hard work, discipline, and mentality, you won't make it. Messi isn't a leader with words, because he doesn't talk much, but just by watching him, you realize what he's like: he never misses a training session, he's the greatest of all time. He greets the groundskeeper, the equipment manager, he's polite, a total star."

ABOUT "EL LOCO" BIELSA

"I had Marcelo Bielsa as my coach, who was crazy about analyzing the opposition, and we would watch videos for hours on end. We analyzed the position of those who played, those who didn't play, even those who hadn't been called up. It was crazy. He was the coach who made an impression on me. I had him when I was very young, and he's the most peculiar guy I've ever had in soccer. He had a spectacular eye and knew what you were thinking at every moment of the game. I have many anecdotes; he's a very peculiar guy, and I laughed a lot."

LUXURY

“I bought a Porsche Carrera GT and was embarrassed to use it. I would sneak into Athletic Bilbao's training ground and after three months I got rid of it. For me, luxury is comfort. I'm not going to buy a $40,000 Rolex, or a Lamborghini, or spend money at the casino. I spend, but I don't waste.”

LOVE AND FAMILY

“I've known my wife since school. I met her on the bus and she's the woman of my life. She's pregnant with our third daughter, who will be born in Argentina. She's adapted to everything without complaining, knowing that we're privileged.”

THE FUTURE OF LAMINE YAMAL

“Lamine Yamal is the closest thing to Messi in terms of age and how he started out. At 17, he is a key player for Barcelona. It's Lamine and ten others. He's unique, but the hardest thing is to keep him that way.”