The AC Milan and Ukraine striker will return to Old Trafford, scene of his winning spot-kick in the 2003 Champions League final shoot-out, next Wednesday.

Milan face Manchester United in the last 16 of the Champions League, and while he promises to savour the occasion, Shevchenko insists his heart belongs to the Rossoneri.

He has been linked with a move to Chelsea recently, but stressed that he is not prepared to join Jose Mourinho's foreign legion at Stamford Bridge, even though he holds both coach and chairman Roman Abramovich in high regard.

"I really admire what Roman and boss Mourinho are doing at Chelsea," Shevchenko told The Sun.

"It is not just because Abramovich spends money but he shows a great deal of enthusiasm for what he is doing. He is a real winner.

"But I do not want to move to English football. I do not want to leave AC Milan to join anyone else."

Shevchenko has scored 105 Serie A goals for Milan since joining from Dynamo Kiev in 1999, together with a host of crucial strikes in Europe.

"This is my spiritual home," he said. "They have voted me their greatest player - I cannot leave a place like this."

He expects the first leg of the tie against United to be a stern test of Milan's capacity to reign over Europe this year.

"I have never played against Rio Ferdinand before but I know all about him. He is a really strong defender," Shevchenko added.