Héctor Herrera reveals humble football beginnings in Mexico | OneFootball

With plenty of time between the end of the LaLiga season and Atlético Madrid’s return to Champions League football, manager Diego Simeone gave his players vacation time in order to relax and recover ahead of their Leipzig tie.

Atlético midfielder Héctor Herrera spent time with his family and shared a piece of his humble football beginnings in Mexico.

Back in 2011, Herrera got his first professional experience on loan from Pachuca’s reserve side at second-tier Tampico Madero. Just two years later, he found himself moving to Porto in an €11m move.

“When I was playing for Tampico I would eat once a day and I was not ashamed to say it. I think that gave me the motivation to keep improving as a footballer.

“By the way, they didn’t even pay me when I was at Tampico,” he tweeted.

Herrera, who has made 29 appearances in his first season at Atlético, has earned 74 caps for Mexico in his esteemed career.