Saturday Mar 11 2006 11:29
Midfielder Alexei Smertin has cut short his season-long loan at Charlton Athletic and signed a four-year contract with Dinamo Moscow, according to the Russian club.
The 30-year-old joined Chelsea from Bordeaux in a £3.45million deal in August 2003, but made only 16 Premiership appearances for the club.
He played 26 games for Portsmouth while on a season-long loan deal at Fratton Park last term and made 18 Premiership appearances for the Addicks this season.
Smertin told Sport-Express: "I had a successful period in my career at Chelsea, where I won the Premier League and the FA Cup. I also had priceless experience working under Jose Mourinho.
"However, I always knew that I would come back to Russia. It might have been later than I expected, but Dinamo's offer was very interesting.
"I had an offer from Fulham and after the national team friendly against Brazil I got an offer from Atletico Madrid.
"But I have chosen Dinamo because there was only one choice for me - London or Moscow."
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