MILAN, Italy - Andriy Shevchenko would like to return to AC Milan, according to team president Silvio Berlusconi.

Chelsea's Andriy Shevchenko celebrates scoring against Portsmouth during their English Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London, October 21, 2006. It was Shevchenko's first Premier League goal for Chelsea. [Reuters]

Interviewed before Milan's loss to AS Roma on Saturday, Berlusconi said he spoke to Shevchenko on the phone a day earlier.

"He called me, which really pleased me," Berlusconi told Italy's Sky TV. "I was with a lot of other people and they sent him an applause and naturally started a 'Come back Sheva' chant."

Shevchenko's reply?

"He said he would like that a lot," Berlusconi said.

Shevchenko left Milan for Chelsea and the English Premier League in May after seven seasons with the Italian club, having scored 173 goals in 296 games with the Rossoneri.

Milan has struggled without him and the loss to Roma was the club's third straight and fourth in their last five games. Shevchenko has also had a tough time, scoring three goals in Chelsea's first 12 league matches.