Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas admits being Lionel Messi's teammate can be tough.

The former Barcelona teammates first came across each other at the club's La Masia academy as youth players.

"There's one story which stays with me, others I can't tell you," he told TyC Sports.

"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."

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."