Desailly hints at Chelsea return

Former Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly has revealed he would like to return to the Barclays Premiership - and says he would find it difficult to play for anyone but the Blues.

The 37-year-old French World Cup-winner, who left Chelsea last year, had been playing for Qatar FC but was unable to settle in the Middle East.

He does not yet want to retire and admits he is keen to play in England again if possible.

Desailly told BBC Sport: "I am a player with experience, who could improve any team in Europe.

England is my first choice if I play on."

But he added: "It could be difficult to play for another team when I feel such an allegiance to Chelsea, so that's something I'll take into account."

Wantaway Veron

One player definitely not returning to Stamford Bridge is Juan Sebastian Veron.

The 30-year-old midfielder is under contract to Chelsea until 2007 but has been on loan at Inter Milan since June 2004.

However, the Argentinian international, capped more than 50 times by his country, claims he has no intention of going back to Stamford Bridge at the end of the campaign.

"At the end of the season I will go back home," Veron told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"It's a family issue - after so many years travelling all over the world, one has the desire to go back home.

"It's my family that wants me to go back and I have to listen to them."

Veron moved to Europe in 1996 from Boca Juniors, playing for Sampdoria, Parma and Lazio in Italy before Manchester United paid £28.1million to sign him from the Rome club in July 2001.

However, he failed to impress at Old Trafford and joined Chelsea for £15million in August 2003, but injury and poor form saw him restricted to a handful of appearances.

Veron has denied rumours linking him with a move away from Inter when the January transfer market opens.

"I have never said that I would leave in January," he said.

"I will only leave in June."

Inter have repeatedly expressed their wish to keep the midfielder for a further campaign with Veron proving a vital component in coach Roberto Mancini's starting line-up.

But Veron insists he has no intention of remaining in Europe next season.

"I will miss Inter and I will also miss Italy," he said. "This country has made me become a man."