Source: Northern_Echo
Mido holds out for his pound of flesh
FRUSTRATED Egyptian striker Mido is ready to stand firm and see out the remainder of his Middlesbrough contract after demanding a payoff from the Teesside outfit.[LNB] Mido has another season remaining on his existing terms, believed to be worth around £50,000-a-week, and feels he is entitled to a golden handshake from a club he has not asked to leave.[LNB] But with more than £2m at stake, Boro are not prepared to bow to the striker's demands and that is what has prevented him from completing a move back to his former club, Ajax.[LNB] Mido knows he is not wanted by manager Gordon Strachan, who would prefer to use his lucrative wage packet to further strengthen his squad with players he feels can deliver promotion to the Premier League.[LNB] But Mido, who spent last season on loan in Egypt and at West Ham, has outlined an intention to stick around after learning that talks between Middlesbrough and Ajax have stalled over who should pay.[LNB] Middlesbrough are doing their best to force me out because they don't want to give me financial dues, said Mido.[LNB] It's not the first time for them to do that. They have done it before with several players, such as Mohamed Shawky, Gaizka Mendieta and Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink. I will not be like them, I will not give up my rights.[LNB] Middlesbrough, who were not prepared to comment last night, are due to face Union Berlin this afternoon in their final friendly before the visit of Ipswich Town next Saturday on the opening day of the Championship season.[LNB] Mido has not figured in Germany and neither did he make an appearance on the pre-season tour of Ireland, when he was left behind to work on his fitness. Strachan has publicly criticised the former £6m man for returning to Rockliffe Park at the beginning of the month out of shape.[LNB] Mido said: I was dropped from the training camp because the club claimed I was unfit. This is something that has not happened to any other player in the history of football.[LNB] It is only natural that players will not be fully fit at the beginning of the pre-season training camp, during which they get physically prepared to play in the new campaign.[LNB] Moreover, I did not have fitness problems. I played regularly with West Ham in the second half of last season, except the last two league games, and lost seven kilograms during the summer.[LNB] I will not leave Middlesbrough until I find a suitable offer elsewhere. If I don't find that offer, I will stay until the end of my contract and gain my financial rights.[LNB] With Mido left behind, Strachan will recall Scott McDonald to his starting line-up in Berlin today.[LNB] The Australian had to miss Tuesday's victory over Sachsen Leipzig because he needed a wisdom tooth extracted and will be hoping to return to action.[LNB] Leroy Lita has impressed during pre-season, but Mc- Donald is likely to start alongside Kris Boyd in attack.[LNB] McDonald said: Boydy and I know each other well from our time in Scotland, so it will be great to play alongside him in competitive games. We know we have been brought in to score many goals and hopefully we can do that.[LNB] Former Middlesbrough midfielder George Boateng has joined Skoda Xanthi. His Hull contract expired following the Tigers' relegation from the Premier League.[LNB]
