Mido left Middlesbrough on loan to Wigan Athletic stating that he would be thrilled to play alongside fellow Egyptian Amir Zaki. Half a season later and the team mates are not quite so friendly.
Zaki apparently leaked Mido's annoyance at being left on the bench for the Egypt's World Cup qualifier against Zambia and Mido hit back saying:
"I just want to tell him that success in Europe is not realised by playing well for a few months and scoring some goals.
"I have been in Europe for several years now and I have scored about 70 goals at the highest levels. I think that these rubbish claims do not match my standard."
He also rubbished Zaki's claims, stating:
"Zaki and his agent came up with that baseless story.
"After the coach informed me that I will not start, I literally told him: 'I am under your command and I will do my best to help the team at any time'."
He is also hoping his coach will set the record straight.
"I am asking coach Shehata to clear my name after these ridiculous claims. The rest of my team-mates were also witnesses.
"I hope we can restore harmony inside the team if we want to reach the World Cup."
But Zaki has also fallen out with Wigan manager Steve Bruce, due to going AWOL while away on international duty.
And it is not everyone who gets on the wrong side of the Mido.
Wigan's Lee Cattermole, who also played with Mido at Boro, said: "Steve Bruce asked me what he was like, and I could only say good things about him.
"Mido is a great lad who just wants to play football and score goals - you can see the work rate he puts in."
Another Egyptian player, Shawky, currently at Middlesbrough, also praised Mido and felt he had had a tough time at the club. He said:
"Mido underwent a lot of injustice at Middlesbrough. He was the best striker in the squad and its top scorer, but despite this he was not played regularly."
Stories of bust ups with team mates and generally creating 'bad feeling' in the dressing room are repeated time and time again with regards to Mido but he has had his fair share of injury troubles including thigh strains, concussion and a long term groin fracture which have also kept him out of the game.
Whatever the truth of Mido's past, Wigan boss Steve Bruce seems happy for Mido to make his move to the JJB Stadium permanent.
He told the Wigan Evening Post: "By the time Mido gets 100 per cent fit the season will be over, but he's certainly getting fitter.
"I think you can see why I like Mido. He's trained hard since he's come here, done everything he possibly can to get fitter.
"We'll have to sit down at some point, see where Boro are and what their situation is regarding Mido.
In return Mido has claimed that Bruce is the "best manager I have ever worked with".
For a player who has moved around as much as Mido has in his career, that is quite a recommendation.
Bruce is not quite so enamoured of Zaki however, who he will recall to the squad for the first time in two months for Wigan's next match against Bolton.
"For what he has done, if I had six centre-forwards I would probably go down a different avenue," Bruce said in the Wigan Evening Post.
"But the one thing I won't do is leave the team short. The team is the most important thing for me - and obviously the club.
"So if I have to use him I will use him. After all we are paying him - when he is here!"
It looks like Mido will be staying on with the Latics but whether Zaki will still be there keeping him company next season remains to be seen.
First published on www.ComeOnBoro.com on 13/5/2009
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