His formative years in English football were spent with Arsenal, however, and was part of the Gunners side which lost to the Blues in the 2007 League Cup final.
And the Spain midfielder says losing to the west Londoners was a common theme of his time at the Emirates Stadium.
“At Arsenal, we were most of the games the better team, but we were always losing,” he told The Telegraph. “I always said the same thing. Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal. Then one long ball or one free-kick, Drogba goal. It was always the same.
