Manchester United star Ander Herrera reveals he has worn the same shinpads since he was eight years old
Spain midfielder says: "I'd like to keep playing with them until they are battered!"
ANDER HERRERA has revealed a bizarre tradition which makes him the butt of dressing room jokes at Old Trafford.
The Man United star has worn the same shinpads ever since he was eight-years-old.
Herrera revealed all during an with the new "Kit Talk" section of the United website.
Asked whether he favours simple, classic shinpads, the Spaniard said: "I have a good story with my shinpads.
"I have had the same shinpads since I was eight or nine years old. Everyone laughs in the dressing room because of them but I am superstitious with that.
"I like to keep playing with them until they are completely battered."
Herrera was asked about the rest of his kit during the interview, but informed United fans that he wasn't quite as strange with other items as with his shinpads.
On his boots, he said: "I am not so strange with my boots. The only thing is I cannot play with boots I just wore for the first time. I need to wear them in for at least one week before I play in them.
"I need to train three, four or five times in them before playing. I would never go into a game in brand new ones as I’d never play well."
And he never requests any particular designs on his boots, other than his name.
The former Athletic Bilbao man said: "I just put 'Ander' on my boots. I don’t like to put too much on. I am a bit 'classical'."
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He added that his all-time favourite Man United shirt was the iconic 1999 Treble shirt, saying: "It was fantastic with the collar, like a polo, and I like it very much."
And he revealed he only swaps shirts with players he has played with in the past.
He said: "I used to like to change my shirt with players I have played with so that is the only thing I do.
"I am saving them in a big bag so I like to sometimes get them out and see them."
Herrera could face increased competition in midfield during the second half of the season at Old Trafford.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan has come into form after a spell on the margins under Jose Mourinho.
The Armenian scored a fantastic scorpion kick during United's 3-1 win over Sunderland.
And the club are also interested in bringing in Atalanta wonderkid Franck Kessie for over £20m.
