Roma boss Claudio Ranieri is refusing to rule out an eventual return to the Barclays Premier League.

The former Chelsea manager is back in London to face Fulham in the Europa League and scheduled a visit to Stamford Bridge to see his former club face Atletico Madrid.

Chelsea fans still hold him in high regard after he was sacked as the Roman Abramovich reign took shape - and the Italian will not close the door on coming back to England later in his career.

"If it wasn't for Roma, there were chances to come back and manage an English club," he said.

"Maybe in the future I could come back."

Ranieri has seen plenty of changes in the landscape of English football since leaving in 2004. Abramovich was one of the first billionaire owners to target Premier League clubs but now it is more common.

"Things change a lot," Ranieri said. "There are a lot rich billionaires coming in, buying clubs and expecting to win. But Roma wasn't built in a day and it takes time.

"Of course I wanted to stay at Chelsea and finish my job but it didn't happen and now I am back at Rome, where I was born and at the club I supported. I am on cloud nine."