The Prophet ﷺ said, "If I were to take a Khalil, I would have taken Abu Bakr, but he is my brother and my companion (in Islam).
عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا مِنْ أُمَّتِي خَلِيلاً لاَتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَلَكِنْ أَخِي وَصَاحِبِي