For the first time since he was traded away, Anthony Rizzo took the field against the Cubs Friday evening in New York.

It was an emotional matchup for both sides as the 32-year-old first baseman spent a decade in Chicago, including ending the organization’s 108-year championship drought.

The Cubs traded Rizzo to the Yankees last July and the slugger wound up re-signing with the team over the offseason. He appreciates the opportunity playing for another historic franchise but he also understands the ties he has to the “Windy City.”

“I think forever I’ll be connected to Chicago,” Rizzo told Boog Sciambi in an interview Friday. “I love everything I had there — have there still.”

Rizzo acknowledged that his foundation will continue to work in Chicago with Ann & Robert H. Lurie’s Children’s Hospital of Chicago and expects that pairing to continue “forever.”

The former face of the Cubs also appreciates the amazing stadium he played half of his games in for 10 seasons.

“Wrigley’s a special place and it will always be a special place,” Rizzo said. “…I look forward to hopefully being able to play there again as a visitor. The next time I’m there, it will be amazing.”

Rizzo also said he has been following the Cubs from afar. He still has ties to manager David Ross as well as players — Jason Heyward, Kyle Hendricks, Willson Contreras, Ian Happ — that he shared the dugout and clubhouse with for years.

“I spent a long time in Chicago,” Rizzo said. “We established things in the organization and a culture that you want to see hopefully pass on to the next guy. I want them to have success.

“I know last year, they blew the whole operation up. J-Hey’s still there, Hendricks, Willson, Happer. Guys I played with along the way.”

Check out the full interview with Rizzo in the video above.