The 31-year-old will head to Russia this week but was not named as part of Julen Lopetegui’s final squad for the World Cup.

He was however, announced on Monday as a pundit for the BBC team with the 2010 winner agreeing to offer his insights after being overlooked by Lopetegui.

Fabregas will be joining the likes of Gary Lineker, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Alan Shearer, Phil Neville, Martin Keown, Pablo Zabaleta and Jurgen Klinsmann on the BBC team in Russia.

He is set to make his first studio appearance on Friday when Spain open their Group B campaign against neighbours Portugal at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi.

Jermaine Jenas, Alex Scott, Danny Murphy, Gabby Logan, Dan Walker, Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates, Robbie Savage, Caroline Barker, Chris Waddle, Terry Butcher, Dion Dublin, Chris Sutton and Pat Nevin will also be representing the BBC in Russia alongside Fabregas, who has one year remaining on his current Chelsea contract.