Thiago Silva says his story is "already done" at Milan but the Chelsea defender suggested he could return to his former club as a coach ahead of the pair's Champions League clash.
The Premier League side and Serie A champions will meet at San Siro just under a week on from their reverse encounter at Stamford Bridge, where the Brazil international played his part in a 3-0 win for the Blues.
Silva previously spent three seasons between 2009 and 2012 with the Rossoneri, winning a Scudetto, before making the move to Paris Saint-Germain, where he cemented himself as one of European football's best centre-backs.
Champions League glory since a switch to Chelsea has vindicated the veteran's move away from PSG, and Silva has now revealed that a failed chance to return to Milan before heading to Stamford Bridge has closed the book on his time there.
"My passage [in Milan] is already done," he stated. "My story is already written. The opportunity to come here came before [I joined] Chelsea, but it didn't happen."
With that said, Silva acknowledged he could return once hanging up his boots, adding: "I don't think I can return to Milan [as a player]. [But] in the future, as a coach? Maybe.
"I am very happy, very excited to be back [in San Siro]. Everything I have been through with this great club, it comes to mind. [During the game] it will be even more so."
Having penned a one-year extension in January to take him through the end of the 2022-23 campaign, questions over Silva's long-term future at Stamford Bridge are starting to rear their head again.
Boss Graham Potter, who has been effusive in his praise of Silva's comradeship within the squad, says the choice to stay is in the defender's hands, though the latter was hesitant to set a timetable on any commitment.
"It is probably not the right time to talk about contracts," he added. "What I can tell you is, for me, it is important to continue playing at the highest level and help the team achieve the highest possible results.
"The time will come to talk, and it could be time before or after the [Qatar 2022] World Cup. I need to decide my contract for my family arrangements and it is not easy. We will see what will happen."
Football rumours: Chelsea seeking new Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk deals
The Sun reports that Chelsea are seeking contract extensions for midfielder Enzo Fernandez and winger Mykhailo Mudryk. The two 23-year-olds’ previous long-term deals would be extended by another year.
The Daily Mail reports that Liverpool are considering Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson as a potential replacement for Caoimhin Kelleher.
According to the Telegraph, ex-Chelsea and Everton boss Frank Lampard has dropped out of the running to become the new head coach of Canada’s national team.
Social media round-upPlayers to watchTosin Adarabioyo: Tottenham have made an offer to the Fulham defender, says Teamtalk, as they try to beat Manchester United in the race to sign the 26-year-old.
Viktor Gyokeres: Manchester United are keen on the Sweden striker from Sporting Lisbon but fear Liverpool may scupper their signing chances, reports HITC.
Djed Spence: Tottenham’s 23-year-old right-back is one of several senior players expected to leave the club this summer, claims Football Insider.
On this day in 2016: Aston Villa relegated from Premier League
Aston Villa were relegated from the Premier League following a 1-0 defeat away to Manchester United on this day in 2016.
Marcus Rashford’s 32nd-minute goal condemned Villa to the second tier of English football for the first time in 28 years.
Rudy Gestede hit the post with a volley late on but there was no delaying what was by then the inevitable.
It was a ninth straight defeat and 24th of the campaign for Villa in a dire season.
They would finish with only three wins and 17 points, half the tally of 19th-placed Norwich, and 22 points adrift of safety.
Villa, the 1982 European Cup winners, had been part of the Premier League since its inception and in the top flight since 1988.
But the 2015-16 season quickly turned into a horror show and they had been bottom of the table since the start of November.
Manager Remi Garde had left the previous month and Villa travelled to Old Trafford under the leadership of caretaker boss Eric Black, who never had any realistic hope of turning the tide as fans turned on the club’s American owner Randy Lerner.
At Old Trafford they were comfortably outplayed by Louis van Gaal’s United side, who were in a tight battle with neighbours City for fourth place and Champions League football – one in which they would ultimately come out second best on goal difference.
Villa spent the next three seasons in the Championship before returning to the top flight via the play-offs in 2019.
Mauricio Pochettino ‘so upset’ over Chelsea penalty bust-up despite huge win
Cole Palmer’s four-goal haul in Chelsea’s thumping 6-0 win over Everton at Stamford Bridge was overshadowed by what Mauricio Pochettino called “unacceptable” behaviour as two of his players were involved in a physical altercation over who should take a penalty.
The home side were four goals up in the second half when Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke caused the unsavoury scene that left their manager feeling the need to apologise to fans watching the game around the world.
Palmer, the club’s appointed penalty taker, finally took charge following intervention from the captain Conor Gallagher, recovering his composure to score his fourth of the game and move on to 20 Premier League goals for the season.
“The players know, the club knows that Palmer is the penalty-taker,” said Pochettino, who was visibly agitated during his post-match duties.
“I’m so, so upset about the situation. In every country people are watching the game and we cannot send this type of image.
“I want to apologise to our fans. Discipline is the most important thing for the team. It’s a collective sport. I’m not going to accept this type of behaviour. I’m going to be very strong. I promise it’s not going to happen again.
“We need to move on and talk about the game – 6-0 against a very good team like Everton, clean sheet, I think we should be happy, no?”
In a debut season defined by individual excellence, the first half was superb, even by Palmer’s own exceptional standards.
His first goal alone was worthy of winning a Premier League match, nutmegging Jarrad Branthwaite before playing a neat one-two with Jackson, then curling the ball left-footed beyond the dive of Jordan Pickford.
His second was a poacher’s finish, reacting quickest to knock in the rebound after Jackson’s effort had been pushed out by the goalkeeper.
Everton were falling apart, a collapse encapsulated by Pickford’s error, playing the ball straight to Palmer to punt the ball into an empty net from 45 yards.
Jackson scored Chelsea’s fourth, hooking Marc Cucurella’s cross under control and guiding it home with a swing of the right boot.
Then came the sight of Jackson and Madueke pushing and shoving over a penalty awarded in the 63rd minute.
“We don’t talk about punishment,” said Pochettino. “It’s about learning. They are young guys. It was very good the reaction of Gallagher like a captain. But you cannot show that type of behaviour.
“The discipline is going to be stronger. If they behave like kids, it’s impossible. You cannot behave like kids. It’s a shame, it’s an unacceptable thing. We don’t deserve to be talking about this.”
At the end of an excellent display, academy graduate Alfie Gilchrist capped things off by firing home his first goal for the club in stoppage time.
Everton boss Sean Dyche, whose side sit just two points clear of the relegation zone, reflected on a “horrid” night for his team.
“It’s miles off where we want to be,” he said. “There’s no excuses for that. Miles off the mark, miles from where we’ve been.
“The goals were alarmingly poor. It’s just simple tackling, reading and anticipating the game. The basics were out the window. A horrid night without a shadow of a doubt.”
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