Zaki on his way out at Wigan

May 18, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Egyptian striker Amr Zaki is set to leave Wigan after manager Steve Bruce announced that he would not take up the option of making his loan deal permanent.

The 26-year-old had a tremendous start to the season after joining from El Zamalek, with eight goals in his first 10 matches, but he has not scored from open play since mid-October and his last goal came on December 28.

Zaki has been badly hit by injuries and his relationship with Bruce has turned sour.

In early April he was fined for the fourth successive time after returning late back from international duty, leading to Bruce labelling the player “the most unprofessional I have worked with”.

Zaki has played only three times since then and the knee injury sustained at West Brom just over a week ago means he has almost certainly played his last game for Wigan.

Bruce also felt the player allowed his head to be turned by links with Real Madrid, Chelsea and Liverpool after making an early impact on the Premier League.

“I’ve made my decision already, a letter has gone to his club, we will not be taking up the option to sign him when his loan ends,” said the Latics boss.

“The writing has been on the wall for a while now but it’s a shame, it really is.

“There was no doubt Zaki had the world at his feet last October when he scored those two goals against Liverpool at Anfield.

“He had a wonderful chance over here but he was badly advised I think, he listened to the wrong people.

“If he had listened to the people he should have done – his adviser is a decent fella – he would have been okay.

“It’s a shame it’s worked out this way, he set us on fire with those goals earlier in the season.

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