Egyptian footballer Mido claims he is a changed man "I have changed tremendously, both as player and person," Mido said. "The Mido of the past lived just for the moment. But the Mido of today is looking ahead and thinking of the future. "My football has improved, too. I've learnt a lot from playing at the highest level in Belgium, France, Spain and now Italy." Mido admitted that last season's stint with Olympique Marseille was a difficult period in his career. "I started the [French] season well but when I returned from the African Cup of Nations finals there was a change of coach. After that, I didn't even make it to the bench and I knew that it would be better for me to go to Italian football, particularly if you look at the type of strikers they need," he said. After several run-ins with European club and national coaches, including his former Ajax boss Ronald Koeman, Mido is aware a concerted effort is needed to change his negative image. "I was very young when I did things that I shouldn't have. It didn't have anything to do with a poor mentality but as they say in Egypt, 'you don't learn for free'. Naturally, I received a lot of advice but when you are young you [think you] know better. "I realise now I was not true to my sport and I did not apply myself properly. I was 16 years old when I left Egypt for Europe. My family supported me of course, but I was left alone and that's when you make mistakes, as you don't have the experience of an older player," Mido said. "I am now in a giant Italian club and I have to stay. I have a five-year contract and I want to succeed here." Nevertheless, the Egyptian striker has been reported recently to be unhappy at Roma and is keen for a transfer to the English Premiership. His agent, Christophe Henrotay, told the BBC Web site that Mido "has hardly featured" for the Italian Serie A club, with coach Luigi Del Neri favouring Vincenzo Montella, Antonio Cassano and Marco Delvecchio in attack. Prior to his switch from French side Marseille to Roma in the summer, Mido had been linked with Southampton, Manchester City, Newcastle and Fulham. "He's not playing and has not played for three months, so it's difficult for him," Henrotay said. "I think right now he just wants to play football and he would like a move to the Premiership. He definitely won't go back to France. "They [Manchester City and Southampton] are still looking for a striker, and there may be other possibilities. "I was not too keen for him to go to Roma because I knew it would be difficult for him to get a game, but he really wanted to go because they are a prestigious club." At one time Mido played for Celta Vigo of Spain for half a season before moving to Marseille.
