Jon Bon Jovi has admitted he is still "heartbroken" over Richie Sambora's decision to "walk out" on Bon Jovi.

In an interview for the Dumb Blonde podcast on Monday, host Bunnie Xo asked the frontman whether he is on better terms with his former collaborator.

"The great thing that I have said about him throughout our lives was you would be lucky to call him your friend, and I mean that - talented beyond, beyond as a guitar player, as a singer, as a collaborator, wonderful, right-hand man, awesome," he gushed. "Couldn't ask for more."

Yet, the Livin' on a Prayer hitmaker went on to indicate that he felt Richie could have departed the rock group in a less contentious way.

The New Jersey native served as lead guitarist of Bon Jovi from 1983 until 2013, when he left suddenly before a concert amid the Because We Can tour.

"My heartbreak with him is the way he walked out on us, compounded by the fact that it took him years to come back in the room just to have a meal with Tico (Torres, drummer) and David (Bryan, keyboardist) and I and say, 'I'm sorry,'" the 63-year-old said. "It's unfortunate. It's heartbreaking... but if what he wanted was to be just Richie Sambora, not a member of Bon Jovi, do it right? I always encourage all of my guys, because my attitude was, 'Bring the information back that you learn outside. It'll only help us.'"

He continued: "So for whatever reason, he walked out, and then that was that. But I can't defend or accuse in any (way)... and it's just not worth it anymore. After so many years, I just... if you can't figure (it out) or get it together, then it's not on us, right? I love the man, heartbroken that he walked out on us."

A representative for Richie has not yet responded to Jon's comments.

But back in 2016, the singer-songwriter stated that he decided to leave Bon Jovi because he wanted to focus on raising his daughter, Ava, amid his divorce from ex-wife, Heather Locklear.