Cesc Fabregas has revealed his “disappointment” with former manager Pep Guardiola and insists Jose Mourinho remains a “friend”.
The former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder is currently playing in Ligue 1 with Monaco.
But the Spaniard has now opened up on his relationship with Guardiola, who persuaded him to return to the Nou Camp in 2011, but swiftly departed for a sabbatical before joining Bayern Munich.
And Fabregas has now admitted their relationship went cold following Guardiola’s exit, with no dialogue in the eight years since.
“No, no, with Pep nothing at all,” Fabregas told CCMA.
“I don't know if the disappointment with Pep is mutual. Things happened, but I prefer not to talk about it.
“Pep was my idol since I was a child. It is from him that I have learned the most, perhaps, since I was four until now.”
Despite sharing animosity during their previous meetings with Arsenal and Chelsea and then between Real Madrid and Barcelona, Fabregas revealed how he grew close with Mourinho after both linked up at Stamford Bridge.
“Mourinho inspired me the most when I left Barca,” Fabregas added. “He told me that we had had our issues on the pitch when he was at Chelsea and I was at Arsenal and then when he was coaching at Real Madrid and I was at Barcelona, but that for him, it all ended there. We turned the page.
“He told me about his project. I had to go where I thought I would do best, the decision was mine and it didn't depend on what people said. I prioritised the professional [aspect], and today I still write to him and I consider him a friend.
“He helped me a lot at a difficult time in my career and perhaps I played one of my best seasons with him.”
