The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "If I were to take anyone as a close friend, I would have taken the son of Abu Quhafa as a close friend."
حدثنا عبد الرزاق أنبأنا معمر عن أبي إسحاق عن أبي الأحوص
قال رسول الله ﷺ لو كنت متخذا أحدا خليلا لاتخذت ابن أبي قحافة خليلا
Its isnad is sahih, and it is an abridgment of 3689, see also 3753. The addition [from Abu Ahwas] we have added from ك, and it was dropped from ح by mistake.