Madonna: Rocco Says Mom Treated Me Like a Trophy ... Not a Son

Madonna's son didn't have to be sold by Guy Ritchie when the 15-year-old made the decision to stay in London ... we're told Rocco was fed up with the singer, her lifestyle and her parenting skills.

Sources who were on Madonna's tour tell us, Rocco was "miserable" being carted around the world by his mom. As one source put it, "There were horrible, full-blown fights with screaming and crying."

We're told during the Stockholm leg of the tour, Rocco was a no-show when the charter plane was ready to take off ... he had made an escape run, but it appears he eventually came back.

Things deteriorated during the London shows in December. Rocco told his dad he couldn't handle it anymore ... he couldn't take the traveling and the fights. Our sources say Rocco told Guy he felt like Madonna treated him more like a trophy than a son.

Rocco now thinks his mom is jealous of his dad's "stable life" and his desire to live with his dad.

Rocco has been ordered to return to NYC for a court hearing. It will be interesting to hear if his bad feelings dissipate and how much the judge considers his living preference.