Jockey Oisin Murphy admits he's struck a friendship with Chelsea fullback Marcos Alonso through his love of horse racing.

Murphy, 26, is a huge Chelsea fan and has got to know the Stamford Bridge wing-back well.

Alonso, 30, is a regular at Surrey racecourses Sandown and Kempton, where Murphy often races in Flat contests.

Turns out the two are in close contact - and Alonso takes his obsession with racing right up until kick-off.

Murphy told the Sunday Times: "Marcos is a good pal. He came to Kempton one night in the cold, rain and dark and he asked for a photo.

"Then he came to Goodwood a few days later. Now we speak every few days and he even facetimed me when I was at Longchamp recently.

"He doesn't bet, so I haven't given him any tips, but he loves his racing and it's on his phone when he's in the dressing room before games."