Ex-Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas says he still considers old boss Jose Mourinho a friend but admitted he has zero contact with ‘childhood hero’ Pep Guardiola.

The 33-year-old Monaco midfielder, who signed for the Blues in June 2014 from Barcelona after nearly ten years at Arsenal, made the surprising confession during a Catalan radio interview.

Cesc told Catalunya Radio programme Tot Costa: “Jose was the person who inspired me most after leaving Barcelona.

“He said we had been rivals on the pitch but it finished there and he told me about his future plans.

“I prioritised the professional side of things, and today we still write to each other and I consider him to be a friend who helped me a lot when I needed it most.”

Of his ex-Barcelona boss, now at Man City, he said: “With Pep there’s nothing.”