Hamburg's new signing Mohamed Zidan admitted he feels more Danish than Egyptian. The Egyptian-born Zidan moved to Denmark as a teenager where he lived and played professional football for seven years. "I feel more Danish than Egyptian," the 25-year-old striker told German newspaper Hamburg Morning Post on Monday. The prolific striker joined Hamburg from Mainz last week in a deal that will see him making 2.5 million Euros per year until 2011. Zidan said that he feels more in touch with his Nordic country that his African homeland. "I've lived in Denmark since I was 17, I own a house there, my girlfriend is Danish and I love living in (Denmark's capital) Copenhagen," he added.
Zidan scored two goals for Egypt in the African qualifiers Zidan has been subject to a huge controversy before joining the Egyptian national team as he pondered his international future. The Port Saied-born player turned down call ups from the national team since 2004. Egyptian fans and football pundits accused the player of stalling till he earned the Danish passport, which would make eligible to play for Denmark, but things toned down when he featured with the Pharaohs in October 2005. Zidan rejected a call up for the national from Egypt coach Hassan Shehata ahead of the 2006 African Cup of Nations before returning to play regularly since August. But now, the former Werder Bremen and FC Midtjylland striker has struck controversy with yet another rash remark that will definitely turn the Egyptian public against him. "Unfortunately I can't play for the national team, but I hope that some day I can acquire the Danish nationality," he said. Zidan's, who will be going on a two-week vacation to Denmark, showed sublime form in the second-half of last season, scoring 13 goals in 15 games with Mainz.
