I followed my heart to Spurs, says Mido

14 April 2012

Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam today claimed he listened to his heart before deciding to join Tottenham.

The Egyptian forward was offered a host of clubs after falling out with Roma, but chose an 18-month loan at White Hart Lane for emotional reasons.

The 21-year-old said: "My heart chose Spurs and I think I'll easily fit in, I would like to thank Southampton and Manchester City for the interest in signing me. I feel that I could adapt with Tottenham as they are a big team in England, very stable and under a serious management.

"[Head coach] Martin Jol is a very big coach and I would certainly love to play in a team managed by such a big name.''

But, before Spurs fans get too excited about this newly constituted love affair, they should bear in mind a magazine interview in which Mido once said: "My biggest dream is to play for Manchester United."

Mido arrives in London for a medical today and will then sign a contract which will see Spurs take on a proportion of his £20,000-aweek wages.

Mido says he has watched five Tottenham games already this season and reckons they are ''a team that plays and wins, with amazing fans that provide incredible support to their team".

The striker also revealed that Roma - for whom he signed for £3.9m last summer - tried to offload him a number of clubs, but he insisted on joining Spurs.

Spurs have also signed Mounir El Hamdaoui from Excelsior Rotterdam for an undisclosed fee, thought to be around £500,000.

The 20-year-old, who is good friends with Arsenal's Robin van Persie, has agreed a three-and-ahalf-year contract.

El Hamdaoui formerly represented Holland at Under-21 level and recently pledged his international future to Morocco.

Jol had insisted he was only looking for one new striker as cover for Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe and Fredi Kanoute, but he has now signed two.

Significantly, though, El Hamdaoui can also play on the wing.

Former Ajax striker Mido, who is well-known to Jol and sporting director Frank Arnesen from their time in the Dutch league, has a reputation as a troublemaker after falling out with previous coaches.

The former Dutch Young Player of the Year is now with his sixth club in six seasons, but Jol believes his bad-boy tag is undeserved.

Jol said: "Mido was at Ajax and was so good he went to Marseille and was so good he went to Roma.

"It's not about being difficult it is about being good. It's different. Robbie Keane, is he difficult? But how many clubs has he had? If you are good, clubs are interested." Jol also described the 6ft 3in striker as "one of the best headers of the ball I've ever seen".

Mido added: "I do not think I can fail with Spurs. I am not a failure just because of what has happened in the past two years. I have always wanted to play in the Premier League. Now I have the chance."

The club are also in negotiations over the signing of Czech goalkeeper Radek Cerny on an 18-month loan from Slavia Prague.

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I followed my heart to Spurs, says Mido

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