MIDO has accused former club Tottenham of blocking his dream move to Manchester City – and setting him on the path to misery at Middlesbrough.
The Egypt ace shone with Spurs following his arrival from Roma in 2005, scoring 20 goals in 63 games.
Egyptian ace Mido accused Spurs of blocking a move to Manchester CityCredit: PA:Press Association
Striker Mido was on the brink of joining City, then managed by Stuart Pearce, in January 2007 – only for the deal to collapse minutes before the transfer window closed.
The 37-year-old has now accused Spurs’ Dutch boss Martin Jol of wrecking his hopes.
Mido moved on to Boro later that year, but failed to prosper. He went on to have brief spells with Wigan, West Ham and Barnsley as well as rejoin former clubs in Ajax and Egyptians Zamalek.
Meanwhile City have gone from strength to strength since being taken over by Abu Dhabi investors in 2008, winning four Premier League titles and seven domestic cups.
Mido told KingFut: “Martin Jol blocked my move to Man City after I reached an agreement with Stuart Pearce, their coach back then.
“That came after I’d played against Arsenal in the Carling Cup and scored a goal.
“There was an agreement – but Jol told me that he couldn’t let me leave after that performance.
“After that, I was about to play the main role – but got an injury setback that kept me out of playing for a long period.”
Boro paid Spurs £6million for Mido – who underwent an extreme body transformation earlier this year – after seeing off rival interest from Birmingham City.
The striker continued: “Steve Bruce was Birmingham’s manager back then, and he wanted to sign me.
“But Boro were UEFA Cup finalists, and in the top ten – maybe top six – in the league back then. Also, the contract was very good.
“I wasn’t lucky at the club, because they were experiencing a bad time after their peak.
“I think even until now the club hasn’t recovered from what happened then.
“Yakubu, Mark Viduka and many [other] big names left that summer, and the club changed its plan with a new young coach in Gareth Southgate.
Mido joined Middlesbrough instead of Manchester CityCredit: PA:Press Association
Mido worked with a young Gareth Southgate on TeesideCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
“The coach’s lack of experience and the big names leaving set Middlesbrough on a declining curve. They still haven’t healed from that period.
“I didn’t know before accepting to join them that they would decline like that.
“The club wasn’t honest with me that they were going to cut their budget at once, set free all the big names and get a young coach, which was the owner’s decision.
“I made a big mistake leaving Spurs for Middlesbrough. I wasn’t patient enough to play a match and not play the next one.
“I should have been more patient. Joining Boro wasn’t the right decision to take at that time.”
Mido shows off new ripped body in workout after incredibly shedding 8st in a year
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
