A friend of the billionaire

l'attaquant des Girondins de Bordeaux Alexi Smertin (D) tente de déborder le défenseur parisien Peter Luccin, le 18 mars 2001, lors de la rencontre opposant Bordeaux au PSG, comptant pour la 29e journée du championnat de France de football D1. AFP PHOTO MICHEL GANGNE

Forty-eight hours after Chelsea plucked Alexei Smertin from Bordeaux for nearly 6 million euros in 2003, the Russian talent was loaned out for a year to recently promoted Portsmouth to break him in to the English Premiership.

Chelsea's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich explained the somewhat strange turn of events: "It is an investment for the future," he stated.

Smertin himself described the move as a dream come true, saying the Premiership was the most professional league in the world and that the fans applauded his every tackle, which must be pleasant for a man who rarely makes the score sheet.

Locomotive Moscow's Alexey Smertin (R) attacks Spanish forward Ivan De La Pena of Lazio Rome, during their European Cup Winners' Cup semi-final match in Moscow 08 April 1999.

Apart from the 3 p.m. kick-off ("I'm used to sleeping round that time") he has settled quickly to the English game and will be happy with his luxury appartment overlooking a plush marina in the south coast town of Portsmouth.

After beginning his career with his hometown club Dynamo Barnaul in the second division in 1992, he stayed in southern Siberia and played three seasons for Zarya Leninsk-Kuznetsky.

A step up to the first division wearing the colours of Uralan Elista followed before his big break and a jump up amidst the ranks of Russian giants Lokomotiv Moscow.

Elected 1999 Russian player of the year, he continued his rise by helping Lokomotiv to the domestic Cup before yet another move.

Russia's lynchpin

Russian midifielder Alexei Smertin (R) tries to run by Japanese forward Atsushi Yanagisawa during the Group H first round match Japon/Russia of the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan, 09 June 2002 at Yokohama International Stadium. AFP PHOTO PHILIPPE HUGUEN

In June, 2000, Smertin moved to France and a new adventure with Bordeaux after their shrewd club scouts were impressed with his Champions League performance playing against their group rivals Spartak Moscow.

At Bordeaux he became a key player in coach Elie Baup's line up as the defensive midfielder lynchpin, but also puts in a fine turn as playmaker.

A master of the short passing game, the slightly-built player can often provoke panic in opposing defenses with his raking through balls.

At national level, Smertin is the key figure in Russia's side too, also playing in a central role in front of the defence.

Russia qualified for the 2002 World Cup where Smertin played in two matches but failed to help his country past the first round.

Assuming he has not expended too much energy in the Premiership season with Portsmouth, he will be crucial to Russia's hopes of making an impression at Euro 2004 where they are drawn with Portugal, Spain and Greece.