The 15-year-old son of singer Madonna and filmmaker Guy Ritchie was recently ordered by a Manhattan Supreme Court judge to return to her mom in New York in a middle of a custody battle between his parents.

New York Daily News reported that teenager Rocco Ritchie expressed his desire to stay with his father in London instead of coming home to his mom.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Deborah Kaplan decided on Wednesday that Rocco should return to New York after the Christmas break and before the start of school.

"I'm directing the child to be returned to New York. If he wants to stay with his father, he must return to his mother," Kaplan was quoted by the New York Daily News as saying.

Madonna, who was present at the courtroom, nodded and smiled at the decision while Ritchie did not make an appearance.

But Rocco's legal counsel, Erick Buckley, claimed that the 15-year-old does not want to return to New York. He also reportedly initiated a litigation in London, which called for the Wednesday hearing.

Sources of the New York Daily News said the passport of Madonna's son is in the possession of his legal council in Britain for safekeeping.

For her part, Kaplan noted that the legal matters should be discussed in New York, not in the other country and expressed that Rocco should make things clear first with this mother before deciding on where to live.

The British court has also reportedly recognised that the case should be within the Big Apple's jurisdiction, since the divorce of Madonna and Ritchie was registered there.

In a similar report, PageSix noted that there is a possibility of Rocco not following Kaplan's order.

"This is a 15½-year-old strapping young kid, so we'll see," said a source quoted by the same report.

The source also revealed that Rocco, who has been going around the world with Madonna for her Rebel Heart tour, is not really getting along well with his mom.

Meanwhile, matrimonial expert Michael Stutman told USA Today that proceedings of the case will not be good for both parties.

"No one wins when they go against the court's wishes, but it's very difficult for both sides when the child is digging their heels in," he explained.

Madonna and Ritchie have two sons - Rocco and an adopted one named David Banda.

Aside from them, Madonna also has two other children - Lourdes Leon, 19 and Mercy James, 9.