Ahmed Hossam signs for Tottenham Hotspur. Not quite the same as ”Spurs get the Mido touch” is it?
When the 21-year-old Egyptian with the catchy nickname (apparently it’s something to do with a trendy wristwatch) moved to Spurs on an 18-month loan deal from Roma during the January transfer window, it looked as if the youngster was a perfect high-profile signing for astute Dutchman Martin Jol, the former West Brom midfielder who has turned things around with some impact at White Hart Lane.
But at second glance, there were doubts. Serious doubts.
The boy, we learned, was trouble with a capital T. Described as the David Beckham of Egypt, he left Ajax Amsterdam, the Dutch team famous for finding African footballing gems, under a cloud. Then, after a brief fling with Miss Belgium, he tried Celta Vigo in Spain before going to French giants Olympique Marseille. Not bad for a teenager. But that short, switchback career had seen each segment punctuated by controversy.
Roma sporting director Franco Baldini grabbed him for £5-million. He was impressed, despite the rumours. At Ajax, Mido had forged a dynamic duo with hot Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic — now at Juventus — he helped Celta Vigo avoid relegation and played in the Champions League with Marseille.
But then the less palatable details filtered through. He fell out with his coach, the highly respected former Dutch international Ronald Koeman at Ajax — and there were reports of an incident with a pair of scissors between the Egyptian and Ibrahimovic in a dressing-room dispute.
Elsewhere, there were questions about his driving, his dedication to training and the publicity generated by his marriage to a childhood sweetheart.
Mido held his hand up. ”I’m a problem child,” he announced, and promised when he signed for Roma, ”I will not cause any problems.”
But when he found himself not getting a regular starting spot at Roma — and then was forced out on the wing — he announced: ”Someone is trying to destroy me.” The move to Spurs began to gain momentum.
For now, though, perhaps it’s best to celebrate the arrival of another great African star. On his debut against Portsmouth, Mido scored a sensational header and added a neat second before being substituted. The fans immediately dubbed him the new Martin Chivers and, so far, it’s all been plain sailing.
Last week, for instance, Mido apologised for letting Egypt down when he refused to play in a World Cup qualifier against Cameroon last September.
He is now determined to add to his 32 international caps by playing in the crucial qualifier against Libya on March 25, saying: ”It’s not my right to give orders and say when I want to play. I will always make sure I will put the national team’s matches as my top priority.
”I do confess that I was rude to the Egyptian press at times, but I have now gained more experience and know that I will never get anywhere without the press’s support.”
He’d do well to remember that in London, too. Mido will do for now. But how long before the doubts begin to surface?