New midfielder Sam Morsy admits he had no expectation that he would be leaving Middlesbrough to move to Town on the final day of the transfer window and says Boro turned down loan interest from Championship clubs.

Morsy joined the Blues on a three-year deal a couple of hours before the deadline, the clubs having agreed an undisclosed six-figure fee.

“I had no intention of leaving Middlesbrough,” Morsy told the Hartlepool Mail.

“Even when I was told they were signing a midfielder [James Lea Siliki on loan from Rennes] I was happy to fight for my place but I think it was made clear from upstairs that they wanted to sell me.

“Initially I said that’s fine if the club wants to sell me but I said I’m staying put. I’d settled in the area, enjoyed my team-mates, enjoyed the coaching staff, it was a great atmosphere and I wanted to stay.

“I think when it became apparent I wouldn’t have a fair shot, that’s when I had to look elsewhere.

“It was late on the last day and I knew the manager [Paul Cook] at Ipswich and had told him earlier in the window there was no interest in leaving the club.

“Usually when I’m at a club I’m fully committed, fully committed to the cause and excited for the season.”

He says Boro were only on a long-term switch not a loan: “There were a couple of loans in the Championship to go to but the club wouldn’t accept a loan, only a permanent one.

“At that time Ipswich were the ones who offered a three-year deal. Going there I know the manager and know I’m going to enjoy my football, they have some really good players there and once we get going I think we can have a really good season.

“They have new owners and they’ve made 19 new signings, they’ll probably strengthen in January so I think it’s an exciting time for the club.”

The 29-year-old says his switch wasn’t down to manager Neil Warnock: “Basically it was a decision from upstairs really, a decision over him.

“There is a lot of transition going on at the club at the minute, a new director of football and lots of change really.

“I was the first casualty of the regime really. I spoke to all the coaching staff and had a really good relationship and really enjoyed working with them, good honest guys.

“Obviously I was only at the club for a year and had some really good bonds and loved my time there.”

He says he had good relationships with everybody at the Riverside: “I pretty much spoke to everyone at the club really and will stay in touch but it’s quite sad to be going to be honest.

"There had been nothing to suggest I would be leaving, it was just so out of the blue and I was just purely in a place of enjoying my football and enjoying coming to work everyday.

“It was sad really but this is football and it’s a cutthroat industry. I just have to immerse myself into this squad and this football club and hopefully have a successful season.”

He added: “I had some great memories there and met some great people, it was just a great atmosphere.

“I think there are not a lot of times when you go and you are genuinely buzzing for training, the games and we had that at Middlesbrough. It was a great atmosphere and something I’ll miss.”

The Egyptian international knows the target for the season with the Blues: "The manager has been really successful, I know some of the lads and I think once we get going we are going to be hard to stop. Without a doubt promotion is what we are after.”

Photo: ITFC

boltzak added 10:41 - Sep 5 Talks a good job, let's hope he does a good job. We need someone to fill that roll. 🤞
3

OwainG1992 added 11:13 - Sep 5 I like what I see and hear from Morsy so far.
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pennblue added 11:27 - Sep 5 Must be pretty disappointing to hear that from a football club. But this is an opportunity to prove them wrong, lets hope next season we are beating Middlesborough on their home patch.
9

Bluejake added 11:32 - Sep 5 Of all the 19 signings, I think that Morsy is primary one. The type of player he is and the job he does in a team is exactly what we need at the moment. Give him the armband and I've no doubt he'll drive us to promotion.
4

dirtydingusmagee added 11:33 - Sep 5 obviously happy at Boro, and not wanting to leave, so lets hope Cook can keep him happy and focused with Town now.He should be a rock at this level . COYB
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Premierbluez added 11:43 - Sep 5 Will not have him in January and February due to African Nations Cup
-1

Cakeman added 12:26 - Sep 5 Sounds like a very good loyal character type. Hopefully he will settle in East Anglia and not want to leave us either.
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bluesteal74 added 12:29 - Sep 5 At least he's honest
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Europablue added 16:26 - Sep 5 If they don't want him, we'll gladly take him
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Edmundo added 09:39 - Sep 6 If he thinks that the Riverside has a great atmosphere, he's clearly not been in many truly great stadiums. Let's blow the roof off at his first match.
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SickParrot added 11:50 - Sep 6 He originally said he only left Boro and dropped a division because of Paul Cook and the owners vision. Now it seems we were his only option! I know that all that really matters is that he did sign for us and that he proves to be the player we all hope he is, but I still feel a bit deflated!
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blues1 added 11:59 - Sep 6 Sickparrot. What are you on about? Yes, he only left bxse of paul cook. He could simply have stayed at boro as was still under contract. Regardless of whether they wanted to sell him or not.
1

SickParrot added 22:23 - Sep 6 Blues1. Yes he did also have the option of seeing out his contract at Boro but he knew he wouldn't played much if at all, so I disregarded that as a credible option for a good professional.
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