Is Mido trying to force Southgate’s hand?
By Shaun • Aug 22nd, 2008 • Category: Boro NewsStories have emerged that Wigan have shown an interest in taking Mido on loan for the season and that Mido isn’t exactly distancing himself from these rumours.
I was informed that Wigan want to sign me on loan, but they are yet to contact Middlesbrough.
Wigan coach Steve Bruce admires my abilities. He has tried to sign me when he was in charge of Birmingham, and now he has renewed his interest.
I will take my final decision next week after meeting (Middlesbrough coach) Gareth Southgate.
Southgate told me that he wants to keep me at the Riverside. I will talk with him to settle on the best choice.
I seek regular first team football. Both clubs can offer me equal chances to play on a regular basis. Both of them have very good strikers also.
But I’m sure I can force my way into the starting XI of any team once I regain full fitness.
I may opt to stay at Middlesbrough for the sake of stability. I settled in there after spending a whole season with them.
Anyway, I won’t close the door on a move to Wigan. I may end up joining them if they offered me more first-team football.
Quote courtesy of FilGoal
Personally I feel this could be a not-so-clever attempt by Mido to publically say to Southgate “play me or i’ll make life difficult”. I think the chance of Boro loaning him out to a Premier League rival would be slim and that if Steve Bruce wants him he will have to cough up the cash, at least £6million.
Boro can rightly feel a little disappointed if these quotes are true, we hardly saw any of Mido last season and after getting himself fit (Boro sent a fitness coach out to Egypt to work with him) he owes the Middlesbrough fans a good season and I could see him playing a pivotal role for us.
There is no doubt that Mido offers us something that no other striker at the club does and that is an aerial threat and physical presence. If he were to go we must bring in a replacement as, should Alves get injured, we would be very lightweight up front again with only Tuncay, Aliadiere and the untried Marvin Emnes as options.
The clock is ticking away to the close of the deadline so any deals would need to happen quickly. Personally I don’t think Mido will leave in this window and that this little episode was just to remind Gareth that he expects to be playing and that there are other managers interested. I may be wrong though 
Shaun is A Boro fan and owner of BoroMania.com. Born and brought up in the North East. Favourite players are Juninho, Slaven and David Wheater.
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I think there is a reason he’s had so many clubs at such a young age. We need to keep him and he owes us a good season
I wouldnt be sad to see him go tbh but we would need to replace him before the window shuts?.
If its true then we want £6m+ we dont need players that want to be away from the club or expect to be 1st on the team sheet.
If he wants to go farewell, I think between Tuncay alves. Emnes and aliadiere plus downings contribution the goals will still come. I have high hopes of tunny and alves this year
Test for a pic