Fabregas remembers training with Messi for the first time

Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas has revealed an anecdote from one of the first times he met Lionel Messi, who went on to become one of his best friends. 

Speaking to TyC Sports, Fabregas spoke about his relationship with Barcelona and Argentina star Messi, who he feels is unfairly criticised in his homeland. 

Fabregas remembered meeting Messi in a training session when they were both kids. "There's one story which stays with me, others I can't tell you. I had to defend against him and you know he's going to the left, and he does, but he still makes me fall to the floor," the Spain midfielder said, reminding of Messi's famous moment against Jerome Boateng in the 2015 Champions League final. 

Cesc also revealed that he "stayed awake until three in the morning waiting for the game between Ecuador and Argentina. I had to see if Messi was going to reach the World Cup. Football owes Argentina one." 

In this sense, Fabregas added: "It would have been phenomenal if Leo had played for Spain, we would have won more titles, but he always felt very Argentina and I think it was the perfect decision to play for his country."  

The former Barcelona man also defended his friend and former teammate: "When everyone lauds him for what he does, it doesn't seem normal to me that in [Argentina] they criticise him so much. I can't understand it because it's where he should be valued the most."