Mido says he thought about leaving Ajax when Franck de Boer was appointed as caretaker coach but decided to stay put after a discussion with the Dutchman. De Boer took charge of the Amsterdam giants on Tuesday, shortly after Martin Jol resigned as head coach. The new manager tends to rely on youngsters rather than established figures, which urged Mido to consider an imminent exit. But the Egyptian striker made up his mind after sitting down with De Boer, who assured him that he won't be confined to the bench. "For a while it seemed that the club's policy would be depending on young players but I had a meeting with De Boer and he told me that I will be featuring for Ajax," Mido told Modern TV. "He stressed that I should improve my match fitness and promised me first-team opportunities. "I will make sure to participate in as many games as possible and score again. I want to be the top striker in the team." Mido has netted three goals in as many matches in all competitions so far this season. The 27-year-old rejoined Ajax in the summer from Middlesbrough on a pay-as-you-play season-long loan deal. Reportedly, Mido will be paid €150,000 at Ajax this term should he be named for 20 matches, regardless of the number of his appearances. Mido's income should be up to €250,000 if he makes Ajax's squad 25 times or more. He hasn't been playing regularly this term, as Jol mainly relied on Mounir El Hamdaoui and Luis Suarez upfront over the past games. De Boer said he will be employing a 4-3-3 formation, which should increase Mido's starting appearances. International Comeback?
Mido's spell at Zamalek last season was fruitless Apart from his ambitions on club level, the former Tottenham Hotspur man is eager to get back in Egypt's fold. "I wish I could represent the (Egyptian) national team again, it's an honor to any player," Mido said. Egypt assistant coach Shawki Gharib stated that Mido could well receive a call-up in the not-too-distant future. The ex-Zamalek player has lost his regular spot in the Pharaohs' squad since his infamous row with Egypt boss Hassan Shehata in 2006. Mido picked a fierce quarrel that could have developed into a fist fight with the decorated coach when the latter decided to take him off in a Nations Cup match. After his uncharacteristic outburst, Mido persistently sought to restore his status as a regular Egypt footballer, albeit to no avail. Shehata snubbed him repeatedly whilst he was constantly plagued with nagging injuries in the last four and a half years. Consequently, his appearances became rare till he eventually lost his international berth. No Egyptian League Return Last season, Mido spent a loan spell at his boyhood club Zamalek in an attempt to draw the attention of the African champions' technical staff. But he couldn't impress during the first half of the season, before moving to West Ham on another loan deal that also saw him struggle in vain to hit peak form. The towering hitman, who has been plying his trade in Europe for over a decade, stressed that he has no intention whatsoever of returning to Egypt again. "I watch Zamalek's games just as a fan … I really admire their form under great coach Hossam Hassan," Mido said. "But I don't have any plans to get back to Egypt. I received offers from European clubs which I considered when my status at Ajax was still unclear."
