Ander Herrera adds Ángel Di María to the Messi-Neymar-Mbappé trio

Ander Herrera has a name to add to the trio of Messi, Neymar and Mbappé: “I’d add a fourth monster,” he said. The midfielder named Ángel Di María when asked about the three players he shared a dressing room with. Of that combination, he also said: “It’s something we will never see again.”

The interview with Rio Ferdinand looks back at Herrera’s career. Now 37 and playing for Zaragoza, he has worn the shirts of Athletic, Manchester United, PSG and Boca Juniors. His experience, the accompanying account notes, gives him a deep understanding of the game. Messi, in particular, stood out among the names discussed.

In the section about PSG’s trio, the figures cited are six goals between Mbappé and Neymar, along with three assists for Messi. Herrera shared a dressing room with the Argentine in Paris. He described the qualities of the players he played alongside: Neymar represented footballing magic to him, while Mbappé was a “superhero.”

Beyond individual talent, Herrera stressed the importance of finding the right role alongside stars. “Stars are stars. I think I had the empathy needed to play with them. You have to know how to give them space, because if I do my job, they’ll make me better,” he explained. He added that Messi and Neymar want the ball and need their teammate to be in position in case they return it.

That reflection comes alongside another turning point in his career: Herrera is back at Zaragoza, 15 years later, after the club announced his signing. He said the team is going through one of the most difficult periods in its recent history, a situation that made him feel he had to return. He also expressed his gratitude to the club and its supporters, saying Zaragoza had played an essential part in his becoming a professional footballer.

The interview also addresses differences between clubs and how to manage leading players. Herrera summed up Manchester United with a phrase: “Manchester United is rock and roll.” He said supporters’ expectations vary from club to club: in his view, Real Madrid fans accept a deep defensive block and counterattacks, unlike Barcelona supporters. For Herrera, teams must adapt to each club’s identity.