What's the secret? Como's shirt raises questions at Messi's house

Antonella posts the photo, and Fàbregas comments

Cesc Fabregas has revealed the secret behind a photo of Ciro, son of the legendary Lionel Messi, wearing a Como shirt. The image went viral on social media and left fans wondering why that particular shirt had been chosen.

It all started when Antonela Roccuzzo, Messi's wife and Ciro's mother, posted the picture on her Instagram account. Word soon reached Fabregas, Messi's former Barcelona team-mate, who spilled the details during an interview on Tuesday.

Speaking to Sky, as carried by Football Italia, Fabregas said: "I'm the one who gave him that shirt. Our wives, our children and I have been close friends for many years, and I've sent them lots of Como shirts."

Italian media had claimed Ciro picked the Como shirt out of admiration for Nico Paz, one of the frontrunners to inherit Messi's number 10 for Argentina once the great man retires.

The Como boss, though, set the record straight. "It's my shirt. The name Fabregas is written on the back, and the number is 4, of course," he explained.

Fabregas and Messi shared several years at Barcelona, lining up together 123 times in the Catalan club's shirt. They lifted plenty of silverware along the way, including La Liga in 2012-2013 and the UEFA Super Cup in 2011.

Fabregas now takes his Como side into battle against Manchester United in the third round of the Champions League on Wednesday.