- Frank Lampard has claimed Chelsea replaced him with Cesc Fabregas
- The Chelsea icon was talking on BT Sport’s Premier League Tonight show
- Pundits were discussing Fabregas throwing pizza at Sir Alex Ferguson
- Lampard joked he hadn’t played with Fabregas as the Spaniard replaced him
Chelsea icon Frank Lampard has half-jokingly claimed that his former club released him in order to bring in Cesc Fabregas as a replacement.
Pundits on BT Sport’s Premier League Tonight show were discussing the rivalry between Manchester United and Arsenal when Fabregas’ name cropped up.
The Spaniard recently admitted to throwing a slice of pizza at Sir Alex Ferguson during the Gunners’ intense match at Old Trafford in 2004.
Frank Lampard has claimed his former club released him in order to bring in Cesc Fabregas
Host Jake Humphrey asked Lampard if Fabregas had ever spoken about that incident at Chelsea, before the former England midfielder pointed out that the Spaniard had replaced him at Stamford Bridge.
‘I wasn’t with Cesc at Chelsea. They basically let me go to bring him in,’ Lampard joked.
‘We never really got on so well on the pitch either, so I think they thought there was no way we could share a dressing room.’
Lampard made the statement on BT Sport’s Premier League Tonight show on Saturday night
Fabregas moved to Chelsea from Barcelona in 2014 – the same year Lampard departed
Lampard also claimed that the duo never got on well on the pitch during their encounters
Fabregas and Lampard tussle during the Champions league semi-final second leg in 2012
Fabregas signed for Chelsea from Barcelona in 2014, the same year Lampard departed after 13 years at the club.
Lampard made 649 appearances and won three league titles and the Champions League at Stamford Bridge.
He went on to join New York City in the MLS and also had a brief stint at Manchester City in the 2014/15 season.