Fabregas Pays Heartbreaking Tribute To Reyes

By Max Wise

Cesc Fabregas has paid a glowing tribute to former Arsenal teammate, Jose Antonio Reyes, who lost his life in a car accident in Spain on Saturday.

Fabregas and Reyes were once teammates at Arsenal, and were part of the side that won the FA Cup in 2004.

Reyes arrived at Arsenal from Sevilla in January 2004 when Fabregas had already been at the club for four months, and the two Spaniards struck an immediate connection on and off the pitch.

"My first great friend in the world of professional football, my room-mate, who always wanted to sleep with the air conditioning even at minus 10 degrees,” Fabregas wrote on Instagram.

"A humble guy who always had a smile on his face, great footballer and great person. I could not wake up today in a worse way.

"I will never forget when you and your family welcomed me at your home in my first Christmas in England when I was alone and 16-years-old.

"Our connection in the field was also special, since it was always easy to find you between the lines so you could make the difference.

"I always say that you have been one of the greatest talents in football and I know that I am not wrong. Two days ago I was talking about you in an interview, it might be a sign, who knows, to remember you, my great friend."

Reyes, who was contracted to second division club Extremadura, lost his life in the crash alongside his cousins Jonathan Reyes and Manuel Calderon.

Reyes left behind a wife, Noelia Lopez, whom he wed in 2017, and three children.