Herrera reveals the letter from Manchester United that ended his five-year stay

Ander Herrera has revealed that a formal letter from Manchester United’s hierarchy, rather than any personal conversation, was the moment he decided to leave the club he had hoped to serve for the rest of his career.

The Spanish midfielder spent five years at Old Trafford, winning four trophies including the FA Cup, and at the end of his third season was voted the club’s Player of the Year. Then 27 and with one year remaining on his contract, Herrera expected United to open talks over a long-term extension. Instead, the club sent him a letter confirming they would simply activate the existing 12-month option.

“After my third season, when I won the ‘Player of the Year’ award, I expected the club to come to me,” Herrera said on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast. “I said to my agent, ‘whatever they offer is going to be OK. I’m going to sign because I want to stay at United. I’m so happy.’”

The silence that followed proved decisive. “They didn’t come, so I started to feel sad. And I remember what killed me is when they sent me that letter saying we are going to renew automatically your fifth season at the club. They didn’t even call me to say, ‘Ander, we want you to stay’. They sent me a letter. When I received that letter I thought, ‘I’m done’. My heart was already a little bit broken.”

Herrera ultimately departed on a free transfer, joining Paris Saint-Germain — a move that cost United nothing in transfer fees but, by his own account, was entirely avoidable.

Despite the painful exit, Herrera says he still follows United closely and retains faith in manager Michael Carrick, whose side have gone six games without a win. He argued that the modern Premier League demands patience from supporters and club alike.

“We have to give him time,” Herrera said of Carrick. “The Premier League now is not top four, top five — it’s almost top eight. I think Carrick is the man. I want him to be the man, but I also believe he is the man to bring trophies to the club.”

Herrera also defended captain Bruno Fernandes, who has drawn criticism following United’s difficult start to the season — two wins from nine league games. The former midfielder insisted the Portuguese playmaker deserves greater recognition for carrying the team through several difficult campaigns.

“For me, he’s a leader,” Herrera said. “He has had Manchester United on his back a lot of years, a lot of seasons.”