France's most capped player told France Football magazine: "I'm staying on at Chelsea until 2005 and then I'm going home. That's certain.

"There's nothing that would tempt me to stay on in England or move to Italy!"

Desailly joined the English Premiership side in 1998 but despite enjoying life in the English capital he says his heart lies elsewhere.

"I've got good friends in London as well as Milan but the bulk of them are in France.

"You know it's good to welcome people who just pass by without an invitation, who come to have a drink without having to phone first.

"They come by 'because they know the door's always open.

"This lack of conviviality begins to get to you."

Desailly went on to recall how he heard about his first overseas transfer from Marseille to AC Milan ten years ago this week from a brief conversation with the French club's then president, Bernard Tapie.

"He told me - 'I've sold you to (Silvio) Berlusconi - there's a plane standing by to fly you out as you have to be there today - and thanks for everything!"