Monday 2 May 2016 17:14, UK
Having spent time with Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea during his career, Cesc Fabregas has played with many of the greatest footballers of the past decade.
But the Spaniard, somewhat surprisingly, says either Mathieu Flamini or Gilberto Silva would rate as the best midfielder he has played alongside.
In an interview with Football Daily, Fabregas conceded that his former Barcelona team-mates Xavi and Andres Iniesta were flashier performers than his former colleagues in the Arsenal midfield.
But the 28-year-old felt the hard graft of the likes of Flamini, who is back at Arsenal but struggles for regular football, and Gilberto, set them apart.
"I had two years playing next to Flamini," said Fabregas. "He covered me and he covered so much ground.
"If I say Iniesta or Xavi, it is fantastic for the eyes, but it is not real for me. If I had to choose one, it would be between Gilberto Silva and Flamini."
Fabregas gave a less surprising answer when asked who was the best manager he has played under.
"Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger," he said.
"Wenger was the most important, because he gave me a real chance to actually show what I can do when I was only 16.
"Mourinho took me after a difficult moment and he made me believe in myself again, a lot. He gave me a real chance and we won the Premier League, which is something I really, really wanted to do.
"For me, they are the two best coaches I have had."
Leicester have been the revelations of the current Premier League campaign and a pair of Foxes are vying to get the Fabregas vote for player of the season.
"It has to be either Jamie Vardy or Riyad Mahrez," he said. "
"I like players with real talent, who can make the difference anywhere on the pitch, and that is why I would choose Mahrez."
