Few players in recent times have captured the hearts of the Manchester United faithful quite like Javier Hernandez and his latest claim is only going to endear the Mexican further to fans
The two-time Premier League-winning forward spent half a decade as a Red Devil, including three years under Sir Alex Ferguson. Watching his old club struggle from the other side of the pond, where he plies his trade for MLS outfit LA Galaxy, Hernandez has conceded United's woes do not come as much of a shock as losing the Scot as manager was bound to have an impact.
The man currently in the hot seat at Old Trafford is Erik ten Hag and the Dutchman is actually on the prowl for a new striker to bolster what was already a struggling front-line before Cristiano Ronaldo made clear he wishes to leave this summer.
Hernandez has made a rather generous offer to the new Red Devils boss, by insisting: "If United came in for me then I'd say 'Yes, I'll play for free.' Of course, you know, I'd do that.
"But I also want to be very respectful to my club. I am playing very consistently and in my mind, my conviction is all about winning a championship with LA Galaxy. In the future, if things happen then they happen - but in my mind, I am 100 per cent with LA."
Affectionately known to the supporters as Chicharito, which means 'the little pea', Hernandez enjoyed an illustrious spell at United but saw himself slowly phased out of the first-team fold in the aftermath of Ferguson's retirement.
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In 2014, the Mexico international was sent to Spanish giants Real Madrid on loan under the orders of then-United boss Louis van Gaal who had deemed him surplus to requirements - where he considered current United wantaway star Ronaldo a teammate.
Spells at Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham and Sevilla duly followed after he left Old Trafford on a permanent basis in 2015, but prior to his move stateside, a video emerged of Hernandez struggling to hold back tears as he came to the realisation his European dream, which saw him play for a club like United, had concluded.
In a short clip posted to his social media, the striker explains: "I wanted to speak to you guys because the thing is about to get done.
"It's almost certain that I'm going to LA. It's okay, everything is perfect, it's only that, well it's like the beginning of my retirement." His father interjects, but Hernandez continues: "Dad, try to understand me.
"Don't worry, look what I mean is that we're saying goodbye to a career that we put a lot of effort into and we worked, and I know you guys also feel it.
"We're going to look at the bright side, but whether we like it or not we are retiring from the European dream."
It goes some way to explaining why Hernandez is so keen on returning to his former side to offer some much-needed help - the 34-year-old is desperate for one last taste of European football.
He has also had his say on where he feels his old side are going wrong and has called for United to truly acknowledge the fact Ferguson has departed for good.
"United need to get over the fact that Sir Alex Ferguson has gone, Hernandez added. "Would we like to have someone similar? Yes, yes, yes. But Sir Alex has gone and it is never going to be the same.
"It doesn't surprise me what has happened at United because in life it’s not easy having a manager for 26 years in the way that Sir Alex did it."
