Fabregas is about to begin his fourth season at Stamford Bridge but started his career in England as an academy product of Arsenal, making his debut as a 16-year-old in 2003.

The Spain international soon established himself as instrumental to Arsene Wenger and over the next seven seasons engaged in several intense battles with Terry's Chelsea.

After spending three seasons with boyhood club Barcelona, Fabregas signed for Chelsea in 2014 to play alongside Terry, and it was only then that his opinion on the centre-back changed.

"He is the type of player that I had many battles with," Fabregas told Sky Sports. "I disliked him very much at some point playing for Arsenal, we had a lot of confrontations, but one thing I always had for him was respect."

Terry left Chelsea this summer for Aston Villa after spending 19 seasons with the club and having made a total of 717 appearances in all competitions.

"I think it was maybe the most difficult season for him [last season], for a lot of reasons," Fabregas added. "He showed to be before a great man and then a great player. He showed he will always be a great captain for this team and I have to tell him a big, big, big thanks."

Fabregas was part of a 25-man Chelsea squad which touched down in China on Wednesday as the club continue their preseason preparations.