Smertin set for Russian return
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Article summary
Russia midfielder Aleksei Smertin is set for a return to his homeland after FC Dinamo Moskva announced he has signed a four-year deal with the side.
Article body
Unsettled spell
The 30-year-old moves from English Premiership champions Chelsea FC, but has been on loan at London rivals Charlton Athletic FC since the start of the season, making 18 appearances. Smertin also spent much of the 2003/04 season on loan, at Portsmouth FC, and although he returned to the reckoning at Stamford Bridge last term, he was farmed out again during the summer.
High-profile signings
That was the last straw for the Russian international, capping a frustrating period since joining from FC Girondins de Bordeaux in 2002. He now appears to have become former Russia manager Yuri Syomin latest high-profile signing following the arrivals of goalkeeper Sergei Ovchinnikov and midfielders Dmitri Khokhlov and Igor Semshov.
