 Tottenham agreed a £ 6 million fee with Birmingham City for Mido on 20 July 2007 . Birmingham manager Steve Bruce said the move was close to collapsing , as the deal reportedly faltered over the wages and the length of contract Mido was demanding . The deal eventually fell through over a clause that Mido insisted be in the contract . In August 2007 Sunderland made a £ 6 million bid for him and held talks , after which Birmingham confirmed they were trying to revive their deal to sign Mido . Middlesbrough then revealed their interest in signing him , matching the £ 6 million fee of Birmingham and Sunderland and were given permission to speak to him . They eventually signed Mido for a fee of £ 6 million on a four @-@ year contract on 16 August 2007 . He scored on his debut for Middlesbrough against Fulham and on his home debut against Newcastle United . During the Newcastle game , Mido was reportedly subject to Islamophobic abuse from some Newcastle supporters , which The Football Association ( The FA ) was to investigate . 
