Although he is no longer part of the squad and had to follow the final from a distance, Ander Herrera found a reason to celebrate alongside Boca. The Xeneize's triumph in the 2026 Professional League, after agonizingly defeating Defensa y Justicia 1-0, is also recorded in the Spanish midfielder's achievements, who left the club in June but did not lose his emotional connection with the team.
Shortly after the title was confirmed, the player participated in a video call with streamer Davoo Xeneize and shared his feelings about the achievement. Amid laughter, he acknowledged that it was still hard for him to accept that he had become a champion after leaving the team. "It's unexpected for me to declare myself champion once I'm no longer there, but I feel it as my own. I'm very happy, as soon as it ended, I checked my Wikipedia page to see if they had added the title, and they had, so I'm at peace with that," he said.
The Spaniard also appreciated the work the team did during the second half of the year and expressed excitement about what may come in the next season. "It's very well-deserved. I think things are being done right, there's a very solid block, I believe the best is yet to come. And to face what comes next year, which is what all fans want, which is the Copa Libertadores," he stated.
Ander Herrera celebrated the Boca title
He even allowed himself to joke about the title of the annual table, a distinction that had raised questions when Rosario Central obtained it in 2025. "Last year we all cursed Chiqui Tapia for this title, but today we thank him," he commented with laughter.
Additionally, he remembered his friend Ángel Di María, with whom he shared a locker room at Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain. "In a call with the guys(Paredes, Di Lollo, Merentiel), they showed me the images from Central (the fans' failed celebration). My friend Fide has already been a champion, so let me be one this time," he added.
Ander Herrera's praise for Vasco and Boca's young talents
One of the main recipients of the midfielder's praise was Rodolfo Arruabarrena, who managed to solidify the team during the second half of the year. "Since he arrived, Vasco has not missed a thing. He is an intelligent and humble guy who always knows what to say. He found stability within the group, I hope he stays much longer. In 2027, I see him capable of going for the Copa Libertadores," he affirmed.
On the other hand, he acknowledged that some of the team's most important appearances did not surprise him, including Leonel Flores. "I saw Leonel Flores coming because I saw him training and I told Claudio Úbeda and Juvenal Rodríguez: 'We need a right winger, and he's doing well,' but I didn't expect Facundo Herrera to perform so much better than I saw him in practice. I take my hat off to Vasco for seeing him and giving him the confidence," he explained.
For Ander Herrera, Paredes is the current best player in South American football
When it came to choosing the standout players of the squad, he had no doubts about who takes the top spot. "If we talk about the best, there’s no doubt, Leandro Paredes is the best in South American football," he asserted about his friend and teammate.
Regarding the players with the most potential. "Di Lollo, Leo Flores, and Milton, I believe Boca will receive offers from Europe. I told them to wait for Di Lollo because he would perform, Delgado is a very reliable kid, Leandro calls him the little engine. Leo is a natural right winger, and there aren't many of those in Europe," he maintained.
His present in Zaragoza and the memory of his time at Boca
After leaving the Xeneize, Herrera returned to Real Zaragoza, another club with which he has a special bond. Currently, the team competes in the third tier of Spanish football, and the midfielder has played six matches, mostly as captain, despite missing some commitments due to a lumbar strain.
Ander Herrera currently plays for Real Zaragoza in Spain's third division
Beyond the recent triumph, the Spaniard made it clear that his experience at the Ribera institution had already been a source of pride before adding the title to his career. "Without having been a champion, I felt privileged to have played a year and a half at Boca. Now being a champion even more so, very happy, I can say that in all the countries where I've played and been a champion," he expressed.
