Passionate Mido makes huge statement

By Zain Alvi | 2nd February 2010

Passionate Mido makes huge statement | read this item

Former Tottenham, Middlesbrough, and Wigan striker Mido has agreed to return to the Premier League for an incredibly low salary package of £1,000 per week. Of course, that clearly tells us that the Egyptian star must have been impressed with anything but the money offered to him by West Ham United. In the words of Hammers co-owner David Sullivan, Mido is inspired by the belief that he still needs to prove his pedigree in English football.

Despite giving his all to the Spurs’ cause following his arrival from Roma exactly five years ago, he couldn’t quite live up to his reputation as an extremely talented striker who had played in various leagues even before turning 22. Nevertheless, he managed a credible record of 19 goals in 61 total appearances for the White Hart Lane outfit. Unfortunately, upon his transfer to Middlesbrough, he suffered from injuries and racial abuse from a small group of irrational Newcastle United fans. As a result of these distractions off the field, he never quite managed to settle down at The Riverside.

A six month loan deal to Wigan improved his record in England as he scored twice in twelve appearances, including an important equalizer in a 1-1 draw against Liverpool. Yet, he returned home to Egypt for a disastrous brief spell at El Zamalek, where he missed a key penalty in his side’s defeat on his debut. Luckily for him, he got another chance to prove himself when Sullivan came knocking at his door to invite him to become a member of the trio of strikers (the others being Blackburn’s Benni McCarthy and St. Ettiene’s Ilan) joining Carlton Cole in the front line of the East Londoners.

Luckily for all the football fans, Mido did the right thing by signing a short-term deal even if it only offered as low as £1,000 per week. Joining a team that is coached by a legendary striker in Gianfranco Zola – and has still relied on Cole extensively throughout this season – will provide the Egyptian with an excellent opportunity to silence his detractors. Besides, as Sullivan mentioned, Mido has already earned enough money to build a fortune for himself, which means success – not money – will be the driving force for 26-year old in the future.

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