Kaladze happy to be part of Crespo deal with Chelsea

Milan's Kakha Kaladze believes he will become a Chelsea player next week.

Kaladze, who can play in defence or midfield, is seen by Chelsea as the answer to their problem spot on the left side of defence.

The Georgian insisted: "I have agreed everything with the Chelsea management. Now it is necessary to wait for them to reach an agreement with Milan and I think I could become a Chelsea player next week."

Asked why he did not wish to stay with Milan, he continued: "Last season I spent a lot of time on the bench and I do not want that with any team. With Milan I have won many trophies, now it would be desirable to make it with Chelsea.

"It's my fifth year in Milan and I have a lot of friends here but I would like a change of city and London is probably the main city in Europe at the moment. It has been quite a journey - I have moved from Tbilisi to [Dynamo] Kiev to Milan and now to London. I thank God he has given me the chance to live and work in such cities."

Kaladze knows that he is not guaranteed a starting spot with the English champions. "I am self-assured even if there will certainly be competition for places in Chelsea," he said.

"It was not the same at Milan where there is a structure that dictates whether you will play or not.

"I am captain of the Georgia national team and this arrangement did not suit me and I wish to achieve more which is another reason to move to Chelsea."

Asked why he did not play for Milan more often, Kaladze said: "Probably, because it was not the coach who picked the team but other people. I do not want to say who did."

Carlo Ancelotti is the Milan coach although the club owner Silvio Berlusconi, also Italy's prime minister, has often made his views known on which players should start.

"The Chelsea boss has told me that he sees me as a left-sided defender but he knows I can also play in the centre," Kaladze said.

The player believes that Milan will let him go in order to persuade Chelsea to let Hernan Crespo stay at San Siro after a successful loan spell from the London club.

"When Chelsea made their bid to Milan they did not wish to sell me and offered me a new deal.

"I am not in the team and have to sit on the bench and I refused to stay. I don't think Milan can keep hold of me and if they do not let me go then in six months' time, I could go for nothing.

"They won't keep a player who does not want to stay and Milan want to keep Crespo as well who is a Chelsea player." Kaladze admits he first got to meet the Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich last year.

"We got acquainted one year ago when our teams were in the USA in an exhibition tournament and I think I caught the eye of Jose Mourinho. With Abramovich it is clear he has football fever."